Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Picks, Odds, Predictions 10/16/21

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves meet Saturday in Game 1 of the NLCS in MLB action at Truist Park. The Dodgers are fresh off a five-game series against the San Francisco Giants. The Braves haven’t played since Tuesday after a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have scored nine runs in their last three games and three or fewer runs in four of their last six games. The Dodgers have split their last four games when scoring three or fewer runs. Mookie Betts leads the Dodgers with 11 hits and four RBI, while Will Smith and Trea Turner have combined for 11 hits and four RBI. The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t list a starting pitcher at the time this article was published.

The Atlanta Braves have scored 11 runs in their last three games and three or fewer runs in three of their last four games. The Braves have won four of their last six games when scoring three or fewer runs. Austin Riley leads the Braves with five hits and one RBI, while Eddie Rosario and Freddie Freeman have combined for eight hits and four RBI. The Atlanta Braves didn’t list a starting pitcher at the time this article was published.

The Dodgers are 8-3 in their last 11 road games and 45-13 in their last 58 overall. The Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 home games and 8-3 in their last 11 games following an off day. The under is 6-2 in Dodgers last 8 playoff games. The under is 4-1 in Braves last 5 overall. The Dodgers are 40-18 in the last 58 meetings.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won seven of their last nine meetings against the Braves, and they’re the better team on paper this series. However, the Dodgers killed their pitching staff to survive the Giants, and they don’t get much of a break, jumping right back into another series. To win game 5, the Dodgers used their best relievers while also pitching Julio Urias and Max Scherzer. The Braves are rested and if there was ever a chance to jump out to an early series lead, this would be it. I’ll update this when pitching matchups come out, but my first lean is to side with the Braves in game 1.

Update: We still don’t know who will pitch for the Dodgers, but we do know Max Fried gets the ball for the Braves. Fried has allowed 26 hits and seven earned runs in his last 47 innings. Nothing else needs to be said here. I’m taking the Braves no matter who the Dodgers throw out there.