Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions

Skubal gives Los Angeles the pitching edge

The Los Angeles Times reported that Tarik Skubal will start Saturday's NLDS opener after posting a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts for the Dodgers. He ended the regular season with seven three-hit innings against San Francisco. Atlanta's starter remained unconfirmed in MLB.com's latest preview, which listed Brent Suter opening for Grant Holmes as one possibility. That contrast favors Los Angeles, but much of it is already reflected in the Dodgers' -213 moneyline.

Atlanta won five of six regular-season games against Los Angeles and outscored the Dodgers 26-15, according to MLB.com. The Braves also hit three home runs in their Wild Card-clinching win over Philadelphia, with Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II going deep. Those results don't erase Skubal's advantage, but they make the heavy favorite difficult to back at this price.

Lineups and availability remain uncertain

Neither batting order was confirmed in MLB.com's preview. Shohei Ohtani had recently returned from the injured list after right-biceps and left-knee injuries, while Atlanta reliever Didier Fuentes might be unavailable after pitching on three consecutive days. With Atlanta's pitching plan and both lineups unsettled, there isn't a sound basis for betting the Dodgers' -1.5 run line or the total of 8.

Prediction

Los Angeles is the likely winner behind Skubal, but -213 asks bettors to pay too much against a team that controlled the regular-season series. The betting lean is Pass.