Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Game 3 Betting Preview

Game 3 of the NLCS will take place on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers (0-2) will square off with the Atlanta Braves (2-0). First pitch for this one is scheduled for 6:05 ET from Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.

The Atlanta Braves have taken the NLCS by storm, winning the first two games 5-1 and 8-7. In Tuesday’s game, the Braves pounced on the Dodgers’ starter Tony Gonsolin (who was starting in place of the injured Clayton Kershaw) for five runs over 4 1/3 innings.  

For the Braves, both Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies went deep while Corey Seager and Max Muncy went deep for the Dodgers. Trying to avoid digging into a 3-0 hole, the Dodgers will look to contain the Braves’ bats in Game 3.

The pitching matchup for Wednesday’s Game 3 features Julio Urias (3-0, 3.27 ERA) taking the mound for the Dodgers against the Braves’ Kyle Wright (2-4, 5.21 ERA). 

Despite the 2-0 deficit, the Dodgers still come into Game 3 as the favorites with a moneyline of -170 while the Braves sit at +155. The spread has Atlanta +1.5, and the over/under for total runs is at 9.5.

By The Numbers

These were the two best offenses in all of baseball this season. The Dodgers rank atop the list in terms of runs scored per game at 5.76. The Braves come in a near second averaging 5.71 runs per game this season.  

Defensively, the Dodgers have a little clearer lead. When it comes to runs allowed per game, Los Angeles is again at the top of the list allowing only 3.47 per game. The Braves fall to 12th overall, allowing an average of 4.45 runs per game.

Dodgers Looking For Game 3 Victory

The Atlanta Braves are really tough to beat in one game, and they would be almost impossible to beat in four straight. As a result, the Dodgers know how crucial winning Game 3 is.

To do so, they will look to Urias to try to silence the Braves’ bats. In 11 games (10 starts) during the regular season, the southpaw went 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. He is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in the postseason thus far. 

On the offensive side, shortstop Corey Seager has led the way for the Dodgers thus far this postseason. In 26 at-bats, he is hitting .308/.406/.654 with two home runs, eight runs batted in, and seven runs scored. Mookie Betts (.308 avg., seven runs scored) and Cody Bellinger (.250 avg., six runs batted in, two triples) have also been solid.

Braves Look To Keep Pressure On Dodgers

The Atlanta Braves offense has been absolutely relentless this postseason. Through seven games, they have eight players who have homered and four players who have homered twice.  

In the NLCS, no one may be hotter than second baseman Ozzie Albies and first baseman Freddie Freeman. In the two games, Albies is currently 5-for-9 with two home runs, four runs batted in, and two runs scored. Freeman has been similarly impressive, going 3-for-8 with two home runs, four runs batted in, and three runs scored over the first two games.

On the pitching side, the Braves are hoping for a good start out of righty Kyle Wright. In his last outing, a win over the Marlins in the NLDS, he went six innings allowing three hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. While he may have a tougher time, the Braves are just hoping he can keep their bats in striking distance by minimizing the damage from the Dodgers’ offense.

Taking Braves +1.5

Don’t get me wrong, the Dodgers are seemingly the better team on paper, but the Braves have just played phenomenally this postseason going a perfect 7-0 thus far. If you are a Dodgers fan, you are hoping the rally in the ninth inning gives a spark in Game 3, but I just have a hard time betting against the Braves at this point.

In this one, the advantage in the starting pitching goes to the Dodgers, but 1.5 runs still seems like a lot to spot a team that is unbeaten in the postseason. For my money, I am taking Braves +1.5.