Dodgers Strike First Against Braves in NLDS Opener
The Dodgers and Braves open their NLDS at 4 p.m. ET Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles enters as favorites despite Atlanta winning five of six regular-season meetings.
- Atlanta won 5 of 6 regular-season games against Los Angeles, outscoring them 26-15.
- Los Angeles finished 100-62, the second-best record in the National League.
- Atlanta enters on one day of rest after a Game 3 win over Philadelphia.
- Dylan Dodd starts as an opener for the Braves; he posted a 2.54 ERA this season.
Why it matters: The Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions pursuing a third consecutive title. The last MLB team to do that was the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000.
- Tarik Skubal, acquired at the trade deadline and a back-to-back Cy Young winner, makes his first postseason start for Los Angeles.
How 7 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 5 sources: The center frames this as a marquee postseason matchup with championship stakes, emphasizing the Dodgers' historic three-peat bid and Skubal's debut as a headline draw.
USA Today1h90-year-old Sandy Koufax braves 100 degree heat at Dodger Stadium
Heavy3hIs the Braves-Dodgers Game Delayed Today? How Extreme Heat Affects NLCS Opener
Newsweek57mOne number (0.55) explains the Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto decision
Reuters4hBraves name Dylan Dodd to open NLDS Game 1 vs. DodgersWAWSB-TV Atlanta3hAtlanta Braves opens NLDS against Los Angeles Dodgers
Right coverage, 1 sources: The right focuses on access and scheduling logistics, foregrounding how fans can watch and highlighting Atlanta's underdog upset potential given the regular-season record.
What’s next: Game 2 is Sunday at Dodger Stadium at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.
- Skubal is a free agent this winter and is expected to sign a record contract.
- Can the Braves' regular-season dominance over Los Angeles translate to a playoff upset?
- How much does one day of rest affect Atlanta's performance through a five-game series?