Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

October 16, 2021

Jonathan Willis
MLB Expert
VegasInsider.com

Game 1 of the NLCS sees the Atlanta Braves host the Los Angeles Dodgers as the former are the NL East champions while the latter are the NL Wild Card winners. Opening pitch is set for 8:08 p.m. and will air on TBS from Truist Park on TBS.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Game 1 Predictions

The Atlanta Braves suffered yet another postseason heartbreak in the NLCS last year. Atlanta had a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Braves were unable to close out as Walker Buehler pitched a gem in Game 6 and Julio Urias shut the door on the Braves in Game 7. The Braves are hoping for a different result this time around, but they are underdogs to the defending World Series champions.

Atlanta does have the benefit of rest early in this series. The Braves closed out the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, while the Dodgers had to go five games against the San Francisco Giants. Dave Roberts used a lot of his best arms too, as Urias, Blake Treinen, Kenley Jansen, and Max Scherzer all threw at least an inning on Thursday night. That gives Atlanta an edge in Game 1 on Saturday night.

Score Prediction

Braves 5, Dodgers 4

Best Bets

Over

Braves ML

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Game 1 Betting Odds

Game odds provided by DraftKings - subject to change

• Dodgers -135
• Braves +115
• Dodgers -1.5 +120
• Braves +1.5 -140
• Over 8 -120
• Under 8 +100

The Atlanta Braves have won 10 of their last 12 games. (AP)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Game 1 Betting Resources

• Matchup: NL West vs. NL East
• Date: Saturday, October 16, 2021
• Venue: Truist Park
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• TV-Time: TBS - 8:08 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report

Inside the Stats - Los Angeles Dodgers

• Record: 110-58
• Run Line: 86-82
• O/U: 72-85-11
• Runs: 840 (4th)
• Batting Average: .244 (11th)
• On Base Percentage: .330 (5th)
• ERA: 3.01 (1st)
• WHIP: 1.10 (1st)

Inside the Stats - Atlanta Braves

• Record: 91-74
• Run Line: 82-83
• O/U: 75-80-10
• Runs: 790 (8th)
• Batting Average: .244 (12th)
• On Base Percentage: .319 (12th)
• ERA: 3.88 (8th)
• WHIP: 1.24 (10th)

Key Players to Watch

• LAD: Trea Turner - 2B (.328 avg, 28 HR, 77 RBI)
• LAD: Justin Turner - 3B (.278 avg, 27 HR, 87 RBI)
• ATL: Austin Riley - 3B (.303 avg, 33 HR, 107 RBI)
• ATL: Freddie Freeman - 1B (.300 avg, 31 HR, 83 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Game 1 Probable Pitchers

LAD: Max Scherzer - RHP (15-4, 2.46 ERA, 236 K, 0.86 WHIP)

ATL: Max Fried - LHP (14-7, 3.04 ERA, 158 K, 1.09 WHIP)

The Dodgers have won 14 of their last 15 games when facing a team from the NL East with a winning record. (AP)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Game 1 Betting Analysis

Max Fried will start the series for the Atlanta Braves. Fried was sharp in his first start of the postseason, allowing just three base runners in six innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of that series while striking out nine batters.

Fried was sharp against the Dodgers in the postseason last year. He opened the series against LA, allowing just one earned run in six innings of work in Game 1 and struck out nine. His next start wasn’t as good, as Fried allowed three earned runs in 6.2 innings of work, but he largely did his job against the best offense in the NL.

In two starts against the Dodgers this season, Fried has a 2.25 ERA. He struck out 13 batters over 12 innings and allowed just 10 base runners.

If the Braves are going to win this series, they need to hit better than they did against the Milwaukee Brewers. Atlanta could only muster 12 runs in that series but won in four games as Milwaukee could only plate five players.

Freddie Freeman is once again Atlanta’s most feared hitter. Freeman hit the home run off Josh Hader that sent the Braves through to the NLCS in Game 4, and he has a 1.086 OPS in four games this postseason. The 2020 NL MVP won’t have to do it alone though as Adam Duvall, Austin Riley, Eddie Rosario, and Ozzie Albies all had at least four hits off the best pitching staff in the NL last series.

Although he pitched the ninth inning of Game 5 against the Giants on Thursday night, Scherzer is slated to get the start in Game 1 on Saturday. Scherzer picked up the first save of his career against San Francisco, yet the veteran is ready to go against Atlanta according to local news reports.

Scherzer has been lights out since joining the Dodgers. He didn’t lose a single start with Los Angeles in the regular season, and he has a 0.81 WHIP and a 1.46 ERA through three appearances with the team in these playoffs.

The Dodgers have not hit well this postseason. Mookie Betts has a .458 batting average and Will Smith is carrying a 1.067 OPS, but the rest of this team has struggled to make contact.

Trea Turner is carrying a .192 batting average through five games, while Justin Turner has just two hits in 24 at-bats. Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, and A.J. Pollock are all struggling at the dish too, so Atlanta has more of a chance than people might think in this series.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Game 1 Betting Trends

• Atlanta has covered the run line in four of its last five games when facing Los Angeles
• The run total has gone UNDER in four straight games played between both clubs
• Los Angeles has won three straight games when facing Atlanta
• The home team has won five straight games played between both clubs

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