A National League clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves takes places Friday night at Truist Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. ET on Apple TV+. So, let's look at the MLB odds and get to my Dodgers vs. Braves prediction.
On one hand, it is incredible that the Braves are still in the playoff race considering all the injuries they have dealt with this season. But on the other hand, it would still be a massive disappointment if they missed the postseason given the talent on this roster.
Entering Friday, the red-hot Mets have overtaken Atlanta for the final NL wild-card spot, with Atlanta playing just .500 baseball recently and unable to separate itself. Los Angeles is sitting pretty with a five-game lead in the NL West as it continues to get more guys back from the injured list.
Before the season, everybody likely had Dodgers-Braves written in pen as the NLCS preview. While that is not the case anymore, it is still a massive series for both teams late in the year.
Dodgers-Braves Prediction
- Dodgers-Braves picks: Dodgers moneyline -102 (Play to -110)
My Dodgers-Braves best bet is on the Dodgers moneyline, where I see value at -102. The best line is available at FanDuel, as well as other sportsbooks — make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Dodgers vs Braves Odds
| Dodgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +152 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | -102 |
| Braves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -184 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | -116 |
Dodgers vs Braves Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Landon Knack (LAD) | Stat | RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 | W-L | 5-7 |
| 0.5 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 2.0 |
| 3.00 / 3.46 | ERA /xERA | 3.78 / 3.41 |
| 4.55 / 4.19 | FIP / xFIP | 3.32 / 3.26 |
| 0.96 | WHIP | 1.12 |
| 18.0% | K-BB% | 21.9% |
| 31.5% | GB% | 41% |
| 104 | Stuff+ | 101 |
| 98 | Location+ | 107 |
Mike Ianniello’s Dodgers vs Braves Preview
Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview: Knack Throwing Well
After making his Major League debut on April 17, Landon Knack has made 11 appearances for the Dodgers this season, with nine starts under his belt. He has been effective in the limited work, holding a 3.00 ERA and allowing opponents to hit just .195 off him.
He has been back and forth from Triple-A all year, making just one start since July. That outing was the best of his career though as he allowed just three hits and two runs across six innings while striking out eight hitters last week against Cleveland. Knack doesn’t allow walks as he pitches to contact, but he has been hit hard at times.
Speaking of hitting hard, this Dodgers offense is pretty good. Los Angeles ranks second in the league in both wRC+ and wOBA on the season. Shohei Ohtani is on pace for a 50/50 season and going to run away with the NL MVP award and he, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez all have a wRC+ above 125.
Atlanta Braves Betting Preview: Braves Underperforming
With the injury to Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach was one of the guys who found himself called up more frequently than expected. The 24-year-old rookie has made 17 starts on the season and pitched to a 3.78 ERA.
He has gotten overshadowed but Schwellenbach’s metrics are outstanding. He has a 3.41 xERA and his strikeout rate and barrel rate both rank in the top 25% of the league. His chase rate and walk rate both rank in the top five percent of the league. It’s extremely rare for a pitcher to be getting guys to chase frequently without walking anybody.
Even without Ronald Acuna Jr., it’s a bit shocking to see Atlanta ranked 19th in wRC+ on the season. It’s hard to think of them as a below-average offense. They can’t just use the injuries as an excuse. Everybody other than Marcell Ozuna has severely underperformed this season.
Dodgers vs Braves Prediction, Betting Analysis
As much as I like what Schwellenbach has done, especially over the second half of the year, this Braves offense is lifeless right now. For a team fighting for their playoff lives, Atlanta ranks 27th in the league with a wRC+ of just 75 over the last two weeks.
September is supposed to signal go-time as we enter the stretch run of the season and the Braves are just 5-5 this month despite playing Colorado, Toronto, Cincinnati, and Washington, all teams well out of the playoffs.
The Dodgers still have plenty of reasons to fight, sitting just one game behind the Phillies for the No. 1 seed in the National League and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
This lineup continues to mash, holding a 134 wRC+ over the last two weeks. Knack is coming off a career-high eight-strikeout performance and should continue to build more confidence.
We don’t get many opportunities to back the Dodgers as underdogs so take advantage of it.
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -102 (Play to -110)
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Moneyline
The gap between the Dodgers offense and Braves offense right now is just too massive for the Dodgers to be underdogs. I like Schwellenbach but he's facing a monster on Friday.
Run Line (Spread)
Pass.
Over/Under
I would probably lean under here considering both these pitchers have been solid, but they are also both rookies so it's too uncertain for me.
Dodgers-Braves Betting Trends
Dodgers Betting Trends
- The Dodgers are 3-2 in their past five games.
- The Dodgers are 3-2 ATS in their past five games.
- The Over has hit in three consecutive Dodger games.
- The Dodgers are 33-37 ATS on the road.
- The Dodgers are 38-32 on the road.
Braves Betting Trends
- The Braves are 3-2 in their past five games.
- The Braves are 1-4 ATS in their past five games.
- The Under has hit in three of the past five Braves games.
- The Braves are 30-41 ATS at home.
- The Braves are 40-31 at home.
