October baseball is here, and the stakes have never been higher for the Atlanta Braves. After a dramatic three-game Wild Card Series win over the Philadelphia Phillies, the team faces a true juggernaut in the Los Angeles Dodgers. More than a routine playoff matchup, this encounter pits two of the most triumphant modern franchises against one another. Although securing a Championship Series berth is at stake for the Braves, the road ahead proves difficult.
The Task Ahead
The Los Angeles Dodgers are chasing history. Aiming for a third straight World Series title, they pursue a milestone achieved only four times in MLB history and never by a National League squad. Dominating the regular season, the Braves claimed five of six games while limiting Los Angeles to merely 15 runs. Yet, beating the regular season Dodgers is one thing. The postseason version of that roster is an entirely different beast. Their injury issues are largely in the rear-view mirror, and their lineup is the strongest it has been since Opening Day. Defeating one of baseball’s elite squads in a five-game format presents a formidable challenge.
Per FanGraphs, the Dodgers hold the edge in almost every key category. They rank second in the NL with a 111 wRC+ for batting, while the Braves sit ninth with a 97. In starting pitching, Los Angeles boasts a 86 FIP- compared to Atlanta’s 102. The bullpen numbers tell the same story, with the Dodgers holding the number one spot in the league with an 85 FIP-. The stats suggest a difficult road for the Atlanta.
A Shift in Mindset
The Braves cannot enter this series acting like the little engine that could. They need to stop looking like the underdog and start acting like the favorite. CBS Sports made a plea to the Brewers this postseason to stop acting like David to everyone else’s Goliath, but that same advice applies to Atlanta. The Braves have been bounced by inferior seeds in recent years, and that history weighs heavy. They must change their mindset if they want to change the results.
Patience and confidence are key. As one player noted about facing opponents who don’t know their names, “[The Cubs] don’t even know most of our guys’ names, so they’re never going to be intimidated by us, but we’re not looking for that.” That quote from CBS Sports highlights a lack of intimidation that the Braves need to fix. They need to be the ones making opponents nervous. The attitude must shift now that the regular season is over. If the Braves want to win, they have to believe they are the Big Bad Wolf, not the little engine.
Chris Sale’s Role
One specific variable could make or break the series: Chris Sale. The Braves used him to get the final four outs of Game 3 against the Phillies. This relief appearance is not without potential consequences. Manager Walt Weiss told reporters that Sale could start Game 2, but the team would “err on the side of giving him (time to rest) if it’s even close.” Forcing him into Game 3 would severely damage the Braves’ odds, as he would then be restricted to a single start throughout the series.
Beyond Sale, the rotation questions are real. Bryce Elder, Reynaldo López, and Martín Pérez all finished the season on the IL. Atlanta’s rotation beyond Sales remains unsettled, Grant Holmes is a Game 1 options, while Tyler Mahle won’t be available until Game 3. Holmes has a unique story, spending a decade in the minor leagues before his MLB debut in 2024. He has suited up for teams like the Ogden Raptors and the Las Vegas Aviators. Now, he faces the Dodgers. “It wasn’t ‘Banana Ball’ like some people think it was, but it was still a good time,” Holmes said of his journey. That journey leads to a tough test in the NLDS.
