The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves are set to begin a pivotal three-game series Tuesday that carries substantial playoff implications, potentially determining a first-round bye for one of the National League's top contenders. The series, played in Atlanta, features two of the league's elite teams vying for a top-two seed in the postseason.
At stake is a bye in the Wild Card round, a significant advantage under Major League Baseball's 12-team playoff format adopted in 2022. The top two seeds in each league advance directly to the Division Series, bypassing the best-of-three Wild Card round. For the Dodgers, who have experienced both routes to a World Series title, securing this bye is particularly important given the inconsistency of their lineup this season.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts has stressed the value of the first-round bye. The Dodgers, with an 80-51 record, are one of three National League teams contending for a top-two seed. They trail the Milwaukee Brewers (81-50), who currently hold the best record in the majors and are in line for home-field advantage throughout the postseason, and are ahead of the Braves (76-55).
The Dodgers are coming off a weekend sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Braves, however, have struggled recently, losing seven of their last 10 games. This series offers the Dodgers an opportunity to gain ground in the standings and potentially damage the Braves' playoff positioning.
The MLB playoff structure grants first-round byes to the top two seeds in each league. The remaining playoff teams are seeded, with the No. 3 seed facing the third-best wild-card team, and the two best wild-card teams playing each other. Last year, the Dodgers, as the No. 3 seed, swept the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Series.
Pitching will be a key factor in the upcoming series. Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow is slated to make his first start in nearly three months on Tuesday, returning from back spasms that sidelined him since May 6. Glasnow's minor-league rehabilitation assignment saw him strike out nine batters in 5 ⅓ innings. He is expected to be joined by other strong starters in the series, including Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers' pitching depth is seen as a strength against the Braves, who have faced pitching challenges, including the potential season-ending injury to Spencer Strider and the absence of significant rotation additions before the trade deadline.
The Braves, despite having a strong season, are experiencing offensive struggles, with Ronald Acuña Jr. not hitting at his usual pace. This slump, coupled with the Dodgers' pitching advantage, could be critical in the outcome of the series.
The Dodgers will also be focused on the head-to-head record against the Braves, which serves as the first tiebreaker for playoff seeding. Atlanta currently leads the season series two games to one. Both teams have strong intradivision records, with the Dodgers at 26-17 in the NL West and the Braves at 27-13 in the NL East. Manager Roberts expressed hope that the tiebreaker would not come into play, suggesting a desire to secure a decisive advantage in the series.
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow is prepared to return from injury for the crucial series.
Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. has been part of an offensive funk.
