The Dodgers and Braves shift to Atlanta for a pivotal Game 3 with the NLDS tied 1-1, and the pitching matchup doesn't get better than this.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the ball for Los Angeles against Chris Sale in a rematch of their Aug. 27 meeting at Truist Park, when Sale threw a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 Braves win. Drake Baldwin's first-inning home run was the only run that night.
Public sentiment will understandably lean toward Sale and Atlanta at home, but there is every chance it goes the other way.
NLDS Game 3 Dodgers vs. Braves betting picks and predictions
Dodgers Money Line (-110)
Sale has been outstanding, posting a 2.16 ERA this season and a 1.96 mark over his final 24 regular-season starts. He also struck out 11 in that Aug. 27 shutout against this same Dodgers lineup.
Los Angeles has not seen him well historically, either. Current Dodgers hitters are just 28-for-142 against Sale with a .588 OPS. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman account for much of the success, combining to go 12-for-34 with three home runs and five doubles. The rest of the roster is only 16-for-108.
And yet, the preference is for the Dodgers. Yamamoto is every bit as capable of matching Sale inning for inning. He finished the regular season with a 2.53 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, and Atlanta's current hitters are only 10-for-51 lifetime against him with 18 strikeouts and a .653 OPS.
He was also dominant on the road, posting a 1.77 road ERA.
The one area of concern is the first inning. Yamamoto's 3.54 first-inning ERA is significantly higher than his marks in most later frames, and Atlanta already exploited that exact weakness when Baldwin homered in the first inning of their August meeting.
If Yamamoto survives the opening frame, Los Angeles looks more trustworthy over nine innings.
The Dodgers simply have more hitters capable of delivering the decisive swing. Even with their offense looking stagnant at times, they have enough depth with Shohei Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Kyle Tucker and the ever-present October factor of Enrique Hernandez.
At a pick'em price, LA has a deeper lineup behind a pitcher good enough to neutralize Atlanta's stars.
Under 6 Total Runs (-105)
These teams just played a 1-0 game with the exact same starting pitchers in the exact same ballpark, and neither offense has consistently looked sharp.
The Dodgers have scored no more than five runs in any of their six meetings with Atlanta this season, putting up totals of five, zero, three, two, two and one.
Los Angeles scored five in Game 1 of this series and only two in Game 2, while Atlanta scored three in each. Several recent head-to-head meetings have also stayed low scoring.
Sale's ability to miss bats gives Atlanta a huge advantage against a Dodgers lineup that has not consistently strung together rallies.
On the other side, Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies are a combined 1-for-16 against him with six strikeouts. Ha-Seong Kim has had the most success at 3-for-7 with a home run, while Michael Harris II is 2-for-6.
Harris has also been Atlanta's hottest postseason hitter, batting .400 with eight hits through the club's first five playoff games.
Still, both starters should work deep enough to keep the game controlled.
This feels like another matchup where one mistake could decide everything.
Teoscar Hernandez To Hit A Home Run (+710)
If the Dodgers are going to solve Sale, Hernandez is the long-shot bat to back.
He is 5-for-24 lifetime against Sale with a home run and two doubles. There is plenty of swing-and-miss in the matchup, as Hernandez has also struck out 10 times, but that volatility is exactly why we are getting +710.
Hernandez hit .341 with a .965 OPS in September, then opened the scoring in Game 1 of this series with a two-run home run before adding another hit later.
He has also built a reputation as a legitimate postseason power threat, with 11 career playoff home runs and nine as a Dodger.
In a game where very little sustained offense is expected, home-run markets become more attractive.
The Dodgers may not string together four or five hits against Sale, but one mistake can still leave the ballpark.
Hernandez has the power, current form and previous success in this matchup to provide the swing Los Angeles needs.
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Dodgers vs. Braves Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers | -110 ML |
Atlanta Braves | -110 ML |
Run Line | Dodgers -1.5 |
Total | O/U 6 |
Dodgers vs. Braves player props
Player Home Run Odds
Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) | +410 |
Matt Olson (ATL Braves) | +440 |
Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL Braves) | +520 |
Max Muncy (LA Dodgers) | +570 |
Drake Baldwin (ATL Braves) | +570 |
Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers) | +630 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
