Venue: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
First pitch: 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT)
TV: FS1 / FOX One
This is Game 2 of the best-of-five National League Division Series. The Dodgers won Game 1 on Saturday, 5-3, behind a strong start from Tarik Skubal and home runs from Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, and Max Muncy. The Braves scored late but could not complete the comeback. Los Angeles holds home-court advantage and is seeking a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Starting Pitchers
Atlanta Braves: LHP Ray Kerr
Limited regular-season and postseason sample; delivered 3.1 scoreless innings in the Wild Card Series against the Phillies. Expected to work as an opener or short starter with the bullpen following.
Los Angeles Dodgers: LHP Blake Snell
4-1 with a 1.90 ERA in nine regular-season starts (limited by injuries including shoulder fatigue, elbow procedure, and late groin tightness). Strong strikeout rates when healthy. Career 0-3 with a 3.49 ERA in six starts vs. Atlanta. Postseason experience with the Dodgers includes strong earlier outings in prior years.
Current Weather Forecast
Hot and dry conditions expected. Afternoon highs near 95–104°F under sunny skies, cooling to the mid-to-upper 70s by first pitch and evening. Mostly clear overnight with light winds (around 5–8 mph). Low humidity and no precipitation chance. Extreme heat warning in effect for the area earlier in the day; stadium conditions should be more manageable by evening but still warm.
Injury Reports
Atlanta Braves:
Reynaldo López (shoulder) – Expected out.
Joe Jiménez (knee) – Expected out.
Tyler Mahle (abdomen) – Day-to-day / expected out until at least Oct. 7.
Martín Pérez (back) – Expected out until at least Oct. 11.
Bryce Elder (knee) – Expected out until at least Oct. 11.
Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Joey Wentz, Hurston Waldrep – Out for season (various arm/knee issues).
Ronald Acuña Jr. and others have dealt with recent minor issues but are available.
Los Angeles Dodgers:
Multiple bullpen arms on longer-term IL (Brusdar Graterol, Ben Casparius, Will Klein, Jake Cousins, Gavin Stone, Eric Lauer, Blake Treinen – shoulder/elbow).
Shohei Ohtani has been managing lingering knee and biceps issues but is in the lineup and described as healthier after the bye. Key starters and position players largely available.
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Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Braves offense (Acuña Jr., Albies, Olson, Riley, Harris II, Murphy) vs. Blake Snell: Snell’s high-strikeout left-handed arsenal will test Atlanta’s power bats. Acuña and Albies provide speed and contact threats; Olson and Riley offer lefty power that could challenge Snell.
Dodgers offense (Betts, Ohtani, Freeman, Hernández, Tucker, Muncy, Smith) vs. Ray Kerr + Braves bullpen: Ohtani (DH) and Betts set the table; Freeman, Hernández, and Tucker provide middle-of-the-order power (all homered or contributed in Game 1). Kerr’s limited innings mean the Braves’ relief corps will face a deep, dangerous lineup early.
Bullpen battle: Both sides have high-leverage arms available, but the Dodgers’ overall depth and rest advantage from the bye give them an edge in a potential late-inning scrap.
Defensive and baserunning edges favor the more experienced Dodgers roster in October baseball.
Recent Team Forms
Atlanta Braves: Finished regular season 94-68 (NL East champions). Advanced via a hard-fought Wild Card Series win over the Phillies (2-1). Dropped Game 1 of the NLDS after a late rally fell short. Offense showed life but was contained early by Skubal.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Finished 100-62 (NL West champions) with a first-round bye. Won Game 1 convincingly with timely power and strong starting pitching. Strong late-season form and championship experience (seeking a three-peat).
Series History
The teams split or traded wins in the regular season (Braves took several meetings). Historical playoff meetings have been competitive. Dodgers lead this NLDS 1-0 after Game 1. Teams that take a 2-0 lead in best-of-five series historically advance at a high rate (~89%).
GAME ODDS
Atlanta Braves 8
Los Angeles Dodgers – 222
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, October 3, 2026
