The Atlanta Braves clash with the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday in Game 1 of their NL Divisional Series in Los Angeles, California. First pitch at Dodger Stadium is 4 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze MLB odds around the Braves vs. Dodgers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
2026 season series: Braves won 5-1
The Braves eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-2 victory in Thursday's deciding Game 3, taking the NL Wild Card Series 2-1. Atlanta wasted little time getting to SP Aaron Nola (1 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H (1 HR), 2 BB, 1 K), with CF Michael Harris II launching a 3-run homer in the first inning. 2B Ozzie Albies added a 2-run shot in the fourth before 1B Matt Olson went deep in the seventh. SP Ray Kerr (1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) tossed
3 1/3 scoreless innings as Atlanta's pitching kept Philadelphia from mounting a comeback.
The Dodgers put together another strong regular season, finishing 100-62 and winning the NL West while scoring 801 runs. DH Shohei Ohtani powered the offense with 30 home runs, 81 RBIs and an .889 OPS, while 3B Max Muncy added 29 homers. CF Andy Pages had a breakout season with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs, 1B Freddie Freeman hit .288 and SS Mookie Betts chipped in 23 homers despite missing time.
Los Angeles was just as impressive on the mound. SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto went 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA, while Ohtani posted a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts. The Dodgers also strengthened an already talented rotation by adding Tarik Skubal during the season, and he went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts after joining the club.
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Braves at Dodgers projected starters
LHP Brent Suter vs. LHP Tarik Skubal
Suter (3-2, 3.36 ERA) had a 1.22 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 in 91 innings over 54 games (4 starts).
- Last appearance: 3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K in an 8-3 win over Miami Marlins Sept. 26
- 2026 vs. Dodgers: 3 2/3 IP, 2.45 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, 2 K
- Career postseason stats: 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 3.25 WHIP, 2 K in 4 IP
Skubal (12-7, 2.72 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 0.96 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 10.6 K/9 in 158 2/3 innings between the Dodgers and Detroit Tigers.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 10 K in a 2-0 road victory against San Francisco Giants Sept. 25
- Career vs. Braves: 0-1, 4.91 ERA (11 IP, 6 ER), 1.27 WHIP, 11.5 K/9 in 2 starts
- 2026 home stats: 6-3, 3.63 ERA (84 1/3 IP, 34 ER), 1.12 WHIP, 75 H, 9 HR, 19 BB, 99 K in 14 starts
- Career postseason stats: 2-1, 2.04 ERA (39 2/3 IP, 9 ER), 0.73 WHIP. 3 HR, 6 BB, 56 K in 6 starts
Braves at Dodgers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:35 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Braves +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Dodgers -220 (bet $220 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves +1.5 (-115) | Dodgers -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -102 | U: -118)
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Braves at Dodgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Dodgers 5, Braves 2
Moneyline
PASS.
There is no value in betting the Dodgers (-220) but I like the idea of betting them on the run line.
Run line/Against the spread
BET DODGERS -1.5 (-105).
The Dodgers have a major rest and pitching advantage entering Game 1. Los Angeles hasn’t played since Sunday and had time to line up its rotation, while Atlanta needed 3 games to eliminate Philadelphia and leaned heavily on its bullpen to advance.
Skubal gets the ball for Los Angeles after posting a 2.61 ERA since joining the Dodgers. He’s won each of his last 4 starts, with the last 3 victories coming by multiple runs.
Atlanta enters with fewer pitching options. Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle aren’t available to start, and the Braves could be forced into another bullpen-heavy game after using several key arms against Philadelphia.
Los Angeles has the fresher bullpen, deeper rotation and stronger lineup. With Skubal on the mound against a Braves team coming off a tough Wild Card series, I’m laying the 1.5 runs with the Dodgers.
Over/Under
Game 1 sets up for a lower-scoring matchup. Skubal has been sharp for Los Angeles, while Atlanta’s offense struggled throughout September. The Braves also have a strong bullpen to help keep the Dodgers in check. The Under is 6-0-1 in Los Angeles’ last 7 games, and postseason baseball usually brings tighter games. I’m betting UNDER 8.5 (-118).
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers odds, picks and predictions
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