LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to play the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series beginning Saturday at Dodger Stadium, renewing a postseason rivalry for the first time in five years. The matchup was set after the Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies in three games in the wild card round at Truist Park in Atlanta.
The Dodgers and Braves have spent much of the last decade at or near the top of the National League standings and have met in the playoffs three times, highlighted by a pair of exciting NLCS matchups each team used as a springboard to a championship. Los Angeles won it all in 2020 and Atlanta captured a championship in 2021. In both 2022 and 2023, the Dodgers and Braves posted the two best records in the National League with triple-digit win totals, but both flamed out in the NLDS and the NLCS rubber match never materialized. During the Dodgers' title runs in 2024 and 2025, the Braves lost in the wild card round and missed the playoffs altogether last year. Atlanta is back after winning the NL East with a 94-68 record.
Atlanta held the upper hand in the regular season, taking five of six meetings against Los Angeles. That included three one-run wins in a sweep in Atlanta from Aug. 25-27. The Dodgers' lone win against the Braves this season came on May 8.
Braves ace Chris Sale was central to that success, allowing three runs — two earned — in 16 innings against the Dodgers this season with 18 strikeouts in his two starts. Los Angeles won that first start on May 8 before Sale delivered a 1-0 shutout on Aug. 27. The 37-year-old pitched Tuesday against the Phillies and then pitched an inning and a third in Game 3, leaving his availability in question. He was previously presumed unavailable until at least Game 2 on Sunday, and has pitched on four days' rest twice this season, both in April. With a day's break for travel, it remains an open question who Atlanta will slot into the rotation.
By earning the bye, the Dodgers have the luxury to set up their rotation however they see fit for Saturday's likely blistering Game 1 start. The Braves advanced after Phillies and Braves Set for Decisive Wild Card Game 3 in Atlanta in the wild card round.