After a hard-fought and emotional Wild Card series win versus the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves will turn their attention to the NLDS. It won’t be easy, as the Braves will have to play the back-to-back defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atlanta went 5-1 this season versus Los Angeles, but that doesn’t matter in the postseason. The Dodgers will no doubt be favored, but the Braves can certainly give them a run for their money. It will be a battle, but can Atlanta conquer Los Angeles again as they did in 2021?
The Braves Must Strike Early and Often
A major key to winning in the postseason is applying pressure on your opponent. Part of what made the 2023 Braves so great was their ability to score in the first inning. That season, Atlanta scored 947 runs in the first inning—41 more runs than the next-best team. In 2026, the Braves still ranked in the top ten in that category, scoring 742 runs in the first inning.
With pitching a question mark heading into the series, the Braves’ offense needs to score early and often. It will be difficult, as the Dodgers have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. The deadline addition of Tarik Skubal (who will start in game one) makes them even more dangerous on the front lines. The good news is that Atlanta has already faced tough pitching in the Wild Card series. It’s anybody’s guess how the Braves will handle their pitching staff, which puts a bigger emphasis on the offense to score runs.
Will The Braves Get Help From the Injured List?
The Braves have some key players on the injured list that could be helpful in the NLDS. For starters, Martín Pérez is eligible to return from the injured list on Oct. 6 from his back injury. Unfortunately, neither he nor Bryce Elder will be on the NLDS roster, per Walt Weiss. With how Atlanta used their pitchers in the Wild Card Series, there are questions about who is available for game one in Los Angeles.
Aside from pitching help, a big bat could also come off the injured list for the NLDS. Lane Thomas was placed on the injured list in early September for a strained intercostal muscle injury. The Braves acquired him at the deadline, hoping to shore up on the left-handed bats down the stretch. The Braves are hoping to get Thomas back for the NLDS, where his bat and speed could play a factor. If Atlanta can add anybody off the injured list, it will make them a stronger team and a tougher out against the Dodgers.
The Braves Must Get a Split in Los Angeles
It may be easier said than done, but the Braves must win one of the first two games to give themselves the best chance to win the series. Chris Sale should be in line to start game two despite his bullpen appearance in game three versus Philadelphia. If the Braves can earn a split, they will have an opportunity to close it out in Atlanta in games three and four. Given that it’s a five-game series, getting a split on the road could prove to be a huge momentum shift.
The real question Weiss faces is what to do with Sale. Atlanta’s ace said he would be ready to go for game two. If the Braves steal game one, does Weiss push Sale and Tyler Mahle back to games three and four in Atlanta?
There’s certainly a lot to think about; stealing one on the road could change the strategy for the rest of the season.
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