Atlanta Braves look to gain confidence against NL leading Dodgers

The series in Atlanta this weekend is no normal series in August as the Atlanta Braves take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Record wise, the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers are by far the two best teams in the National League at the moment.

However, I think even Braves fans would admit that there is a very large gap between the Dodgers and Braves. If you just look at the run differential the Dodgers are plus 208 and the Atlanta Braves are plus 64.

So the Braves have a lot to prove between now and the postseason to show they are the biggest threat to the Dodgers.

It doesn’t help that earlier in the season we ran up against their top three pitchers in LA and were embarrassed. Much was the same when the Dodgers took out the Braves in the NLDS last season.

Unquestionably the Dodgers are the best team in the NL right now, and quite possibly the best team in all of baseball.

They’re tops in the NL in runs scored, home runs, slugging, and OPS. The Braves are second behind them in a lot of those categories.

Where the Dodgers separate themselves is that they are also first in the NL in ERA, quality starts, and BAA. They’re also second in the NL in strikeouts.

What is thought to be their biggest weakness is their bullpen, which ranks third in the NL in ERA and second in BAA.

All that to say this is a very complete team and there is a reason why many believe they will represent the NL in this year’s World Series.

But, don’t count the Atlanta Braves out just yet. They have the offense to keep up with the Dodgers, at times our starting pitching can be dominant, and even though they haven’t shown it yet, our bullpen should be much better.

The Atlanta Braves will avoid two of their top three starters this weekend, so if the Braves were ever going to gain some confidence against the Dodgers, it’s now.