Are we witnessing another edition of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ shortcomings in October? After yet another disappointing Clayton Kershaw MLB playoff performance, the Dodgers are just one game away from elimination as they now trail the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in the NLCS.
The Dodgers now put their season of the hands of rookie Dustin May. The Dodgers are betting favorites to extend their season, but should they be?
We break down the baseball odds with our best Dodgers vs Braves picks and predictions for Game 5 on Friday, October 15 (9:08 p.m. ET).
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Atlanta Braves betting preview
MLB Playoff Series Prices
Braves: -425
Dodgers: +325
Starting Pitchers
Dustin May RHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs A.J. Minter LHP (1-0, 3.86 ERA)
May had a solid rookie campaign for the Dodgers, pitching to a 2.57 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP, while relying mostly on a sinker and a cutter with impressive movement. But he lacks a true “put away” pitch and as a result, his strikeout numbers aren’t that great. May has pitched just 4 2-3 innings this postseason, allowing no runs on one hit.
Thanks to Bryse Wilson’s remarkable performance in Game 4, the Braves now have the luxury of trying to close out the series with a bullpen day and A.J. Minter gets the call as the opener. Minter was excellent in 2020, pitching to a 0.83 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 22 appearances. In the postseason, the lefty has given up a lone hit, a home run to Corey Seager in Game 2.
Weather
This game will take place on neutral ground at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, and with a retractable roof, the weather should have minimal impact on play. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Moneyline Pick
Yes, it looks like the Braves are playing with house money in Game 5, and why wouldn’t they? Atlanta has obviously outplayed the Dodgers in three of the four NLCS games. While the Dodgers are the ones with the terrifying lineup, the Braves have been the tougher out. Despite losing Game 4 by a score of 15-3, Atlanta is still outscoring L.A. 26-25 for the series.
And when it comes to the bullpen game, the Braves have confidence there too. While the group is sporting a ho-hum 3.63 ERA in the postseason, they have a 1.16 WHIP and are limiting opponents to a .212 average.
Meanwhile, if May can’t go long (he hasn’t pitched more than four innings since September 22), then the Dodgers pen has an uncharacteristically high 4.06 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and .250 opponent batting average.
The Dodgers are favored pretty heavily in Game 5, and I get why they are. But it’s hard to pass up on the value with the Braves in this one when they have been, for the most part, the better team, at least in this series. Take all that dog money with Atlanta.
PREDICTION: Braves (+189)
Total Bases Prop Pick
This feels like a Freddie Freeman type of game. The Braves leader has been waiting to get Atlanta back to the World Series for his entire career and he is built for this moment. The dude is clutch. During the regular season, Freeman hit .353 with two outs and runners in scoring position. And in potential series-clinching games this year, he is 2-6 with three walks and two runs scored.
On top of that, he’s getting in the zone. Freeman is hitting .444 over his last five games, with three extra-base hits, and has gone Over 1.5 total bases four times. The one time he didn’t, it was in the 15-3 blowout and he still had a hit and a walk in just two plate appearances. Freeman will have his fingerprints on the Braves advancing to their first World Series since 1999.
PREDICTION: Freddie Freeman Over 1.5 Total Bases (+117)
Braves vs Dodgers betting card
- Braves (+189)
- Freddie Freeman Over 1.5 Total Bases (+117)
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