Dodgers NLDS preview: Who has edge in matchup against Braves
The Dodgers know who their National League Division Series opponent will be.It’s a familiar foe from postseasons of the not-too-distant past.After developing a budding rivalry with the Atlanta Braves through playoff meetings in 2018 (a Dodgers NLDS win), 2020 (a memorable Dodgers comeback from a three-games-to-one deficit in the NL Championship Series) and 2021 (a Braves NLCS upset en route to their most World Series title), the two iconic franchises will square off again this fall, opening their best-of-five NLDS on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.The Braves got there after a dramatic 2-1 wild-card series win over the Philadelphia Phillies.The Dodgers were waiting, preparing themselves during a bye week for the beginning of their World Series three-peat quest.The Braves got the better of the Dodgers in the regular season, going 5-1 in head-to-head matchups including a series sweep at Truist Park in August.But the slate has been wiped clean now.The 100-win, second-seeded, two-time defending champion Dodgers will be the favorite.With the NLDS now set, the California Post analyzed how the two clubs match up ahead of their latest October battle:Getting on baseThere was no better offense in the majors during the first half of the season than the Dodgers (through June, they ranked first in scoring, batting average and OPS).
But there were few bigger disappointments at the plate down the stretch (from July on, they ranked 15th in scoring, 14th in batting average and 11th in OPS).Despite that, they still outpaced the Braves in most offensive categories.Atlanta finished the year eighth in scoring (4.58 runs per game, compared to the Dodgers’ 4.94 mark), 10th in batting average (.246 to the Dodgers’ .257) and 16th in OPS (.718 to the Dodgers’ .762).Another key difference between the clubs: The Dodgers showed better plate discipline.
They posted the league’s third-highest walk rate and on-base percentage (10.1% and .338, respectively) while the Braves had the third-low...