Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
First pitch: 6:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
The series is tied 1-1 after the Dodgers took Game 1 at home and the Braves responded with a 3-2 win in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium. Game 3 shifts to Atlanta with a premier pitching matchup.
Starting Pitchers
Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (14-9, 2.53 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 182 K in regular season). Reigning World Series MVP making his 2026 postseason debut. Elite command and secondary pitches; strong road numbers.
Braves: LHP Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 200 K). Dominant down the stretch (1.96 ERA over final 24 starts). Recently worked in the Wild Card Series (including closing Game 3) and previously shut out the Dodgers in August.
Current Weather Forecast
Mostly sunny to clear skies expected. Highs in the upper 70s°F during the day, settling into the low-to-mid 70s at first pitch with overnight lows in the mid-50s. Light east/northeast winds around 5-10 mph, low humidity, and near-zero chance of rain. Comfortable, neutral conditions for scoring with minimal wind impact at Truist Park.
Injury Reports
Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (managing right biceps/left knee) and Freddie Freeman (right knee) are available but monitored. Longer-term absences include Brusdar Graterol, Ben Casparius, Will Klein, Blake Treinen, and several other pitchers on the 60-day IL.
Braves: Bryce Elder (knee) and Martín Pérez (back) unavailable for the series. Lane Thomas (side) on the 10-day IL. Longer-term issues include Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, and others.
Projected Lineups / Key Roster Notes
Dodgers are expected to stack right-handed bats against Sale and may adjust the infield (possible looks for Kiké Hernández or Miguel Rojas at third). Core includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy/Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, and supporting pieces.
Braves feature Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Austin Riley, and the middle of the order that has produced timely hits in the series. Exact orders subject to final confirmation closer to game time.
Recent Team Forms
Dodgers: 100-62 regular season (NL West winners). Split the first two games after a strong Game 1 win; offense has shown power but mixed results against Braves pitching. Deep bullpen and star power.
Braves: 94-68 regular season (NL East winners). Strong home record (52-29). Evened the series with a resilient Game 2 road win featuring timely hitting from Michael Harris II and strong relief work. Sale provides a major lift.
Series History
Braves held a 6-2 edge in the 2026 regular-season series. Competitive postseason history between the clubs; recent meetings have often been low-scoring and tightly contested. The winner of Game 3 in a tied best-of-five series historically advances at a high rate.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Braves lineup (Acuña, Albies, Olson, Harris, Riley): Yamamoto’s command and split-finger will be tested by Atlanta’s lefty-heavy threats and speed.
Chris Sale vs. Dodgers lineup (Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Muncy/Hernández): Sale’s cutter/slider mix against a powerful but potentially reconfigured right-heavy order.
Bullpens: Both clubs have high-leverage arms available; early score could dictate usage.
Defense and baserunning: Acuña/Harris speed vs. Dodgers’ elite defense and Ohtani’s dual-threat ability.
Betting Trends
Elite starting pitching and a pitcher-friendly environment point to a low-scoring game. Sale has the home edge and recent success against this club, while Yamamoto is elite and the Dodgers possess superior overall talent and depth.
GAME ODDS
Los Angeles Dodgers 6.5
Atlanta Braves – 105
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 5, 2026
