And then there were eight. Eight teams remain in the hunt for the 2026 MLB World Series Championship, with the Divisional Round of the ever-expanding MLB Playoffs starting on Saturday. Let’s find ourselves some winning plays before the action begins. Next up, we preview a National League matchup between the kings of the East, the Atlanta Braves, and the rulers of the West, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Braves vs Dodgers Divisional Round Series Predictions & Best Bets
#3 Atlanta Braves vs #2 Los Angeles Dodgers
Game 1: Saturday, 4:00 PM ET @ Los Angeles
Game 2: Sunday, 8:00 PM ET @ Los Angeles
Game 3: Tuesday, 6:00 PM ET @ Atlanta
Game 4: Wednesday, 6:00 PM ET @ Atlanta (if necessary)
Game 5: Friday, 8:00 PM ET @ Atlanta (if necessary)
Now this is more like it. After previewing the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians series, two less-than-stellar teams, we’re on to this premier matchup between the majors’ second-best team, the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers, and its third-best, the 94-win Atlanta Braves.
After a rare down year last season, when they only won 76 games and missed the playoffs after making it for seven straight years, the Braves bounced back this year, winning the National League East Division. It was a struggle, but they ended up getting past the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card Round to punch their ticket to La-La Land.
Some reward. The Dodgers are rested and ready to go for a threepeat of World Series titles this season. If this squad has a weakness, it’s not visible to me right now (though the postseason does expose fault lines and cracks for any team). Even with Shohei Ohtani no longer pitching, Los Angeles’ rotation is formidable, with the trio of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, and Blake Snell expected to start the first three games (perhaps the only three games) of the series. The Braves, meanwhile, used ace Chris Sale in relief on Thursday, making him unavailable for Game 1.
What about the champs’ offense, though? Andy Pages, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Ohtani, Freddie Freeman – shall I continue? The Braves have a formidable offense as well, with Michael Harris II, Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, and Ronald Acuna Jr., to name a few. But, just like in pitching, the advantage is squarely in the Dodgers’ favor.
Atlanta was one game better on their home field (52-29) than Los Angeles (51-30), so there’s that. But at least two, and potentially three, of these games will be played in L.A. The Dodgers will win the series, and with no fancy plays available yet, I’m just taking them on the moneyline.
And while no player props are posted anywhere yet, when they are, I’m going to play Max Muncy to lead the series in homers. He hit a team-best (tied with Ohtani) five against the Braves this season, and I’m guessing we’ll get a good number on him at the books.
Best Bets: Los Angeles to win series (-210); Max Muncy to lead series in homers (TBA)
Division Series Previews
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