The National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers is locked at 1-1, setting up a massive Game 3 showdown tonight. Atlanta grabbed a crucial 3-2 victory on Sunday to even things up, and now the series heads to Truist Park, where the Braves have been dominant this season.
Pitching Matchup Sets the Stage for a Series Shaker
Tonight’s game is set to be a classic pitcher’s duel. The Dodgers, who finished the regular season with an impressive 100-62 record and won the NL West, are sending right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound. Yamamoto put up a strong 14-9 record with a 2.53 ERA this year. On the flip side, the NL East champion Braves (94-68 regular season) will counter with left-hander Chris Sale, who boasts an identical 14-9 record and an even sharper 2.16 ERA. Atlanta’s home field advantage could be huge here; they were 52-29 at Truist Park in 2026, while the Dodgers were 49-32 on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
The Numbers Are In: A Proven Model’s Game 3 Pick
SportsLine’s powerful computer model has simulated this Dodgers vs. Braves Game 3 a staggering 10,000 times, and it has some strong opinions on how things will play out. The model, which has been on a hot streak with a 31-25 run on top-rated MLB money-line picks during the divisional round and has returned over $900 for $100 players, is eyeing the over/under for tonight’s contest. With the line set at 6.5 total runs, the model is confidently picking the Over. Why? Atlanta’s last five home games have gone Over 6.5 runs in three of them. Plus, Los Angeles games following a day off have seen the Over hit 13 times in 24 games. The model is also projecting big nights for some key bats: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Andy Pages are all projected for 1.5 total bases or more for the Dodgers. For the Braves, Matt Olson, Ronald Acuna Jr., and another unnamed player are projected for 1.3 total bases or more.
The series is knotted up, with Game 3 tonight at Truist Park. With two aces on the mound and a computer model leaning toward a higher-scoring affair, this is shaping up to be a pivotal game that could swing the momentum entirely. Get ready for some high-stakes October baseball!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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