The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves meet again on Thursday night at Truist Park, with the Braves looking to complete a three-game sweep after a dramatic 6-5 walk-off win.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (80-53, first in the NL West) and Atlanta Braves (78-55, first in the NL East) renew hostilities Thursday at Truist Park with Atlanta riding a two-game series lead. The Braves won 4-3 on Tuesday and 6-5 on a ninth-inning walk-off single by pinch-hitter Ha-Seong Kim on Wednesday. With both teams atop their divisions and October looming, this series has playoff intensity. The edge tonight leans toward the Braves, who own the home crowd and momentum, but the Dodgers’ offense is capable of flipping the script at any moment.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Seeking to Avoid a Sweep
The Dodgers arrived in Atlanta as the league’s best team and riding a six-game winning streak, but they’ve dropped two straight to the Braves. Their offense hasn’t been the issue—they’ve scored five and three runs—but the bullpen has been vulnerable late. Los Angeles also faces a mounting injury crisis: right-hander Roki Sasaki will go on the injured list after exiting Wednesday’s start with a blister on his right middle finger. The Dodgers already have 10 players on the IL, including Bobby Miller, Blake Treinen, Ben Casparius, Spencer Strider (all 60-day), plus Reynaldo Lopez, Robert Suarez, Will Klein, and Justin Wrobleski (15-day). Notably, several of those names—like Strider, Lopez, and Miller—are also on Atlanta’s injury list, a quirk of the shared data feed.
There is encouraging news: Shohei Ohtani threw a bullpen session Friday and is targeted to start Sunday against the Tigers in Detroit, and Tarik Skubal is set to start Friday at his old park in Detroit. But for tonight, the Dodgers need their current arms to step up. They’ll lean on a lineup that includes Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Ohtani (as a hitter), but without Sasaki, the rotation depth is thinner. The Dodgers have the talent to win any game, but their pitching staff is stretched, and Atlanta’s lineup has proven it can produce in the clutch.
Atlanta Braves: Home Streak and Sweep in Sight
The Braves have taken control of this series with back-to-back comeback wins. Ozzie Albies singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth on Tuesday, and Ha-Seong Kim’s pinch-hit single in the ninth Wednesday capped a 6-5 victory. Atlanta has been rolling at home, and they’ve debuted in the top 3 of MLB Power Rankings for Week 22. Their own pitching staff is banged up—Reynaldo Lopez, Robert Suarez, and Will Klein are on the 15-day IL, while Joe Jimenez, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Bobby Miller are on the 60-day—but the bullpen has delivered in this series.
Offensively, the Braves have gotten contributions from Lane Thomas, who scored the winning run Wednesday, and a lineup that includes Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, and Matt Olson. They’ve shown resilience, and the home crowd at Truist Park has been a factor. A sweep would send a message to the rest of the NL and further solidify their hold on the NL East. Atlanta’s recent form, combined with Los Angeles’ pitching woes, gives them a clear edge tonight.
Head-to-Head: Pitching Depth vs. Clutch Hitting
The key matchup tonight is the Dodgers’ depleted pitching staff against a Braves lineup that has been clutch in high-leverage spots. Los Angeles has the edge in overall record and star power, but Atlanta has the momentum and the home-field advantage. The Dodgers need their starters to go deep to protect a bullpen that has blown leads in consecutive games. The Braves, meanwhile, will look to jump on the Dodgers’ starter early and hand it to a bullpen that has been effective despite injuries.
Key factors to watch:
- Can the Dodgers’ bullpen hold a lead if they get one? They’ve failed in each of the last two nights.
- Will Roki Sasaki’s injury force the Dodgers to use an opener or bullpen game, putting more strain on an already taxed staff?
- Which Ha-Seong Kim shows up? He’s been a hero off the bench, but he could get a start after his walk-off.
- How does the Truist Park crowd impact the Dodgers’ young pitchers?
- Will Shohei Ohtani’s impending return provide a psychological boost, or will the Dodgers be looking ahead to Detroit?
Prediction
The Braves have the edge in momentum, home field, and bullpen reliability. The Dodgers’ pitching staff is in shambles, and Atlanta’s lineup has shown it can deliver in the clutch. Expect a tight game, but the Braves complete the sweep with a 5-4 win, powered by another late-inning rally.
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