Braves vs. Dodgers MLB NLCS Game 3 Odds & Predictions

Braves vs. Dodgers MLB | NLCS Game 3 Odds & Predictions

For the entire 2021 Major League Baseball season, the Los Angeles Dodgers were the betting favorites to win the 2021 World Series. Maybe they still will win it, but the Dodgers are down 2-0 in the NLCS to the Atlanta Braves as the series shifts to LA on Tuesday for Game 3. Let’s take a look at how the teams are performing so you can place your MLB betting.

How to Bet Braves at Dodgers MLB Odds & TV Info

  • When: Tuesday, 5:08 PM ET
  • Where: Dodger Stadium
  • Probable pitchers (away/home): Charlie Morton/Walker Buehler
  • TV: TBS
  • Stream/gameday audio: TBS app
  • Opening MLB Lines: Dodgers -172, Braves +158 (total 7.5)

Why Bet on Atlanta?

The Braves trailed by two runs twice at home in Game 2 against the Dodgers but rallied to win 5-4. Eddie Rosario went 4-for-5 and delivered a walk-off RBI single off of Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning. Rosario singled and was stranded in the third and fourth innings. In the eighth inning, he had a leadoff knock off of Julio Urias, advanced to second on a fly ball and then scored on an RBI single by Ozzie Albies. He came through in the clutch in the ninth, smacking a two-out RBI single off of Corey Seager’s glove and into center to bring Dansby Swanson home with the winning run. Rosario is now hitting an impressive .409/.435/.409 with three RBI in these playoffs.

Austin Riley came through with a game-tying RBI double off of Urias in the eighth inning. Riley finished 1-for-3 plus a walk and is now slashing .364/.417/.682 with a pair of homers and four RBI in the postseason.

“You better not leave early when this team is down, because you’ll end up missing the best part of the game and listening to it on your radio when you’re driving home,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “These guys never quit.”

Joc Pederson smacked his third home run of the postseason, a mammoth 454-foot blast off of Max Scherzer in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2. Pederson helped the Dodgers win the World Series last year.

Coming into the series, Los Angeles had an overwhelming advantage on paper over the Braves in the bullpen department. But Atlanta’s relief core now has been great in this series and has a 1.52 ERA in the postseason, easily the best of the playoff teams.

It’s Charlie Morton on the mound here. Pitching on short rest, Morton was charged with two runs over 3 1/3 innings last Tuesday in the Braves’ 5-4 NLDS Game 4 victory over Milwaukee. He was able to pitch out of a jam in the first inning and held the Brewers off the scoreboard until Omar Narvaez delivered a one-out RBI single in the fourth. Morton was pulled at that point and Jesse Chavez immediately permitted another hit, adding an additional run to Morton’s ledger. The 37-year-old wound up throwing 69 pitches over his 3 1/3 frames.

Morton went 14-6 with a 3.34 ERA this season. He not long ago agreed to a $20 million contract extension to return to the Braves in 2022. In four career outings vs. the Dodgers, Morton is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. While with Houston, he tossed the final four innings of a Game 7 win over the Dodgers in the World Series in ’17.

Why Bet on LA Dodgers?

Corey Seager hit a two-run homer in the first inning of Game 2 for a 2-0 lead. He also drew a walk later, finishing 1-for-4. The 27-year-old shortstop has had a disappointing postseason to date, slashing just .219/.286/.406 with one homer and four RBI. Chris Taylor smacked a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning but the Braves would rally. He finished the night 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a stolen base and is now hitting .286/.407/.571 with a homer and six RBI on the postseason.

Will the Dodgers have All-Star third baseman Justin Turner available? He didn’t start Game 2 due to a stinger on the right side of his neck. Turner entered the game as a pinch hitter and was hit by a pitch in his arm, in the top of the seventh inning with two on and two out and the game tied, 2-2.

Turner hit .050 in the NL Division Series against San Francisco, but Manager Roberts said recent difficulties did not play into his thinking to keep Turner on the bench and that Turner would most likely start Game 3. Turner had started 77 consecutive postseason games for the Dodgers, dating to 2014, before not going in Game 2. Turner’s woes are not simply a product of bad luck. Whereas his average exit velocity during the regular season was 90.9 mph, his average exit velocity in the playoffs has been 85.6 mph. His 13 playoff homers are the most in franchise history.

It’s Walker Buehler on the mound here. Operating on three days’ rest, Buehler limited the Giants to one run over 4 1/3 innings last Tuesday as the Dodgers won NLDS Game 4 by a score of 7-2. In his first-ever start on short rest in the regular or postseason, Buehler had to pitch out of a first-and-third, one-out jam in the second inning but otherwise didn’t face much trouble through the first four frames.

In four potential elimination games in his postseason career, Buehler now boasts a 1.25 ERA across 21 2/3 innings of work. That 1.25 ERA is the third-lowest mark in postseason history for someone who has made at least three starts in that situation, trailing only Charlie Morton and Madison Bumgarner. All told, Buehler owns a 2.50 ERA in 72 career postseason innings.

Buehler finished his fifth season, recording career-highs in innings pitched (207.2), wins (16), starts (33) and posting his second 200+ strikeout season. He finished the campaign among the league leaders in wins (3rd), ERA (2.47), strikeouts (7th, 212), starts (T-1st), Opp. Avg (2nd, .212).

Game Trends

  • Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 Tuesday games.
  • Braves are 20-6 in their last 26 games vs. a right-handed starter.
  • Braves are 13-3 in their last 16 games following a win.
  • Dodgers are 41-13 in their last 54 Tuesday games.
  • Dodgers are 40-13 in their last 53 games as a home favorite.
  • Braves are 17-35 in the last 52 meetings in Los Angeles.

Expert Prediction

  • Dodgers 5, Braves 2

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