The Atlanta Braves will take on the Dodgers in the Best-of-5 NLDS series

The Atlanta Braves could be getting revenge for 2013 when they take on the Dodgers on Thursday in Los Angeles

After beating the Colorado Rockies to win the NL West on Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers will now host the Atlanta Braves for games 1 and 2 of the National League Division Series.

The Braves will start their playoff adventure on the road when they head to LA on Thursday to face the Dodgers. The Dodgers and the Rockies faced off in an extra tie-breaking game on Monday to determine the NL West division winner, with the loser having to play in the Wild Card game.

The 92-71 Dodgers came out swinging, going on to win the game 5-2 and will get home-field advantage over Atlanta as they end the regular season with a better record than the Braves (90-72).

The Wild Card game will now feature the Rockies facing the Chicago Cubs, who lost the NL Central division title to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday also.

The Braves and Dodgers will duel in the first two games in LA on Thursday and Friday before flying to Atlanta for Game 3 on Sunday and, if necessary, Game 4 on Monday.

Then, if the showdown goes the distance, game 5 would be on Wednesday, Oct. 10 – back in LA.

This topic is tricky and has been discussed all across Braves country and media as whether home field advantage would help the Braves or not.

Though the Braves have been record-wise better on the road, they have stated that they much preferred to have gotten the chance to start at home.

From others like analysts and journalists, it’s pretty unanimous too:  it’s definite that they play better on the road.  Overall, home field advantage might not help them but you at least feel like you get an extra boost when you get the home games. Here’s a bit from Fox Sports South earlier last week.

How It Could Play Out

Against the Dodgers this season, the Braves’ record is 2-5 WL with the Dodgers taking two of three in LA.

The last time the two clubs faced off in the playoffs was in 2013 and it didn’t go so well for the Braves. They lost 3 games to 1 including a moment of upset when Juan Uribe delivered the infamous lead-taking homer off David Carpenter with an obviously angry Craig Kimbrel looking on in the bullpen during game 4.

Atlanta is all-but-certain to face Clayton Kershaw in one of these first games – a pitcher who has owned the Braves in his career.

In 10 career starts against Atlanta, Kershaw has a 4-0 record with a dominating 1.43 ERA against them. He’s only faced the Braves once this year but struck out 8 in 7.2 innings for the win.

No starters have been officially announced but Mike Foltynewicz is most likely the Braves’ choice for game 1.  So maybe Foltynewicz vs Kershaw? That will allow for both teams to have their ace be ready in some capacity again if there is a Game 4 or 5.

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However, from the Braves side, they have stated that they prefer players to have rest, so using Foltynewicz twice in a series might not be an option no matter what.

In 2013, the Braves had 3 starters that were just about equally as good in Kris Medlen, Mike Minor and Julio Teheran. Medlen went game 1, followed by Minor and Teheran.

This time around, the skill levels of the rotation are a little different but could go Foltynewicz, Anibal Sanchez, Kevin Gausman with the rest would be anyone’s guess.

Other names who’ve put up good auditions recently is Sean Newcomb, Touki Toussaint, and even Teheran, and either of those names could end up in the bullpen.

Another case for Newcomb is his near no-hitter against the Dodgers this season back in July when he went 8.2 innings of no-hit pitching. That has to play a factor in the decision-making.

My guess is Newcomb will be the first-in-line to start game 4 or 5 along with Teheran while Toussaint becomes a relief option after his recent 3 strikeout relief appearance.

On the Dodgers side, they have Kershaw, former-Braves Alex Wood, Rich Hill, Walker Buehler, Kenta Maeda and other guys including Ross Stripling and Hyun-Jin Ryu among others. So they have more established depth in the pitching department but the Braves rotation has been looking strong as of recent days.

The times and starters have yet to be announced but Game 1 will for sure take place on Thursday at Dodger Stadium… probably as the late game of the pair of NL contests.