Outrage swept across 29 MLB fanbases on Saturday night when the reigning champion Dodgers traded for Tarik Skubal. The two-time AL Cy Young winner heading to L.A. felt inevitable, but it didn't stop folks from getting upset once the transaction became official, with Atlanta Braves fans particularly annoyed.
Already the betting favorite in most markets, the Dodgers look truly unstoppable on their quest for a third straight World Series victory. Meanwhile, the Braves have a commanding lead in the NL East, and GM Alex Anthopoulos is doing everything he can to mold Atlanta's roster into a formidable opponent for L.A. come October.
While there is no move Anthopoulos can make that would make Atlanta a World Series favorite ahead of the Dodgers, plenty of moves exist to narrow the current gap between the teams. Hopefully, Anthopoulos can make some headway over the next 24 hours and give Atlanta more ammunition to take down the big bad Dodgers in the postseason.
A sweepy weekend!@CuracaoTravel | #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/em5D55komc
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 2, 2026
4 reasons why the Braves can beat the Dodgers in the postseason despite the Tarik Skubal trade
One pitcher on planet Earth, give us Chris Sale
Yes, Tarik Skubal is great, but we're rocking with our guy Chris Sale. Atlanta's ace is having an unbelievable 2026 season, and one that makes us feel confident anytime he is on the mound. Sale's 2.08 ERA and 2.47 FIP match up against any other potential postseason pitcher,
Strikeout stuff is usually a priority in October, and the 37-year-old Sale is electric as ever on the mound, ranking in the 92nd percentile in strikeout rate. It's beyond time for the Braves to get to October with a healthy Chris Sale on the mound.
Stars and homers play in October
Every postseason, we see a familiar formula from the teams that advance: pitch well and hit home runs. The home runs tend to come from a team's established stars, and the Braves have plenty atop their lineup.
Matt Olson, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Drake Baldwin form a powerful trio in Atlanta's lineup, and each have the ability to carry the team through a postseason series. Entering Sunday, the Braves have actually hit more homers than the Dodgers this season; let's hope that continues in October.
Atlanta's bullpen allows them to shorten games
Bullpen usage always gets an uptick in postseason play, and the Braves have a great bullpen to lean on. Manager Walt Weiss might be limited on his starters in October, but Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee, Raisel Iglesias, and hopefully Robert Suarez can really shorten games in the playoffs.
The Braves traded for the Tarik Skubal killer, a.k.a. Lane Thomas
Alex Anthopoulos already won the trade deadline with his trade for Lane Thomas, otherwise known as Tarik Skubal's worst nightmare. In all seriousness, Thomas is a real get for Atlanta, as his plus bat against left-handed pitching allows the team to match up well with some of the fierce southpaws they could see in October.
Ozzie Albies is a lefty-masher, and Olson, Harris II, and Baldwin each have playable splits against left-handed starters. Whether it's Skubal or a nasty lefty reliever, Atlanta's ability to hit southpaws could dictate how far they go in October.
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