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Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview

It is win or go home on Thursday for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1-3) as they host the Atlanta Braves (3-1) in Game 5 of the NLCS. The Dodgers will welcome Atlanta to Dodger Stadium as the first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 pm ET.

After letting Game 3 slip away late, the Braves bounced back on Wednesday to take three games to one lead over L.A. with a 9-2 victory. In the win, Eddie Rosario and Freddie Freeman combined to go six for nine with six runs batted in, five runs scored, and three home runs.

For the Dodgers, starting pitcher Julio Urias was roughed up as he allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Los Angeles was only able to manage four hits, and their top four hitters went a combined 0 for 15.

The Dodgers are the favorites Thursday playing at home. They are -136 to win while the Braves’ moneyline sits at +116. The runline features Atlanta +1.5 (-184), and the over/under for total runs is eight.

Pitching Matchup

The Atlanta Braves are in good shape as they are sending lefty Max Fried to the mound Thursday. During the regular season, Fried was 14-7 with a 3.04 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and struck out 158 in 165.2 innings.

Fried has been even better in the postseason this year. In two starts, he is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. In Game 1 of this series, Fried went six innings and allowed just two runs to the Dodgers.

Like Game 1, the Dodgers are electing to have a bullpen day on Thursday. Obviously less than ideal in an elimination game, manager Dave Roberts is hoping they can scrap together 27 outs and force a Game 6 in Atlanta.

By The Numbers

Throughout the season, the Dodgers have statistically been the stronger of the two teams. They rank fifth in the majors in scoring, averaging 5.05 runs per game. The Braves rank ninth, averaging 4.85 runs.

In terms of defense, the Dodgers have been the best team in baseball. They rank first in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 3.42 runs per game. The Braves rank fourth, allowing 4.01 runs.

As the first four games have shown, though, sometimes you can throw statistics and rankings out when it comes to a postseason series.

Braves Look To Get Back To World Series For The First Time In 21st Century

The last time that the Atlanta Braves made the World Series, the idea of Y2K was starting to creep into people’s minds. While the team didn’t win it in 1999, this year’s version of the Braves are trying there for the first time in the 21st century.

Leading the way for the Braves this series has been Eddie Rosario. He has dominated this NLCS as he is hitting .588/.632/1.059 with two home runs, six runs batted in, and five runs scored.

Freddie Freeman has also gotten in on the fun. After starting out the series ice-cold, he has picked it up and is now hitting .313/.389/.563 with a home run and two runs batted in.

Los Angeles Trying To Overcome Adversity

Thus far, nothing has really gone right in this series. Even in their lone win, it wasn’t until a home run by Cody Bellinger in the eighth inning that the Dodgers showed much signs of life. Instead of carrying the momentum into Game 4, though, they were quickly silenced by the Braves.

Injuries have been a major concern for the Dodgers as they were already without Clayton Kershaw and Max Muncy. On Wednesday, they lost another one of their starters as Justin Turner left with a hamstring strain and is now out for the rest of the postseason.

No one has hit particularly well this series. Corey Seager has two home runs, but he has also struck out five times and is hitting just .200. Bellinger has shown signs of life hitting .300 with a home run but has done little else besides that.

Taking Atlanta And The Runs

Crazier things have happened, and it is hard to rule out the Dodgers making a comeback in the series with Max Scherzer and Walker Buehler likely available in Games 6 and 7; however, this game will by far be the most challenging for the Dodgers.

If you are a Braves fan, the hope has to be that they can put some pressure on the Dodgers early and try to create doubt from the onset.

This will likely not be a blowout regardless of the final outcome. For that reason, taking the Braves and the 1.5 runs is probably the best bet and the most value.

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