Atlanta Braves: 5 keys to beating the Dodgers

While the opponent remains the same as 5 years ago, the Atlanta Braves are a different team and facing a different team as they begin their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers

So here we go. Thursday night, the Atlanta Braves will play their first playoff game in 5 years. The first playoff game since Fredi Gonzalez suddenly forgot that he had the best closer in the game at that time in the bullpen.

Just like that series, the Braves will be matching up with the Los Angeles Dodgers again. We are going to look at 5 keys that could change make the Atlanta Braves victorious in this series as opposed to the fate they faced 5 years ago.

1. Continue to hit lefties

It was announced on Tuesday evening that the Dodgers would go Ryu, and not Kershaw, in game 1. Game 3 figures to be Walker Buehler and one would assume that game 4 would be Rich Hill followed by Ryu or Kershaw. 4 of the 5 games (If necessary) will be thrown by a Left-hander in Dodger Blue.

That could play right into the Braves advantage as a dive into the numbers will show. The Braves team average against lefties this year was .269, which was third-best throughout baseball.

A couple players that really excelled against southpaws this year were Tyler Flowers and Ozzie Albies. Flowers (albeit in only 66 at-bats) hit .348 and had an outstanding .511 on-base percentage. Albies had a not too shabby .335 average.

As any person with any knowledge of the Braves will tell you, a left-hander does not bother Freddie Freeman or Nick Markakis either. They both will not be grounded by seeing one leftie after another.

Adam Duvall was acquired at the deadline to insert more pop against Left handers down the stretch. He never got off the ground in Atlanta and therefore will probably not even be on the playoff roster. However, Inciarte improved dramatically over the 2nd half against the southpaws and therefore the Braves should be just alright with him playing every day.