3 teams the Atlanta Braves would probably prefer to avoid in the postseason
The Atlanta Braves have clearly been the best team in baseball this season, but that doesn't mean some teams aren't worse matchups than others.
By Eric Cole
As always, the Dodgers remain a threat to Atlanta in the postseason
Braves fans are understandably thrilled with their demolition of the Dodgers over the last three games. The Braves haven't played well in Dodger Stadium in over a decade and their convincing performance is certainly a statement that Atlanta is a force to be reckoned with. However, just because the Braves have gotten the job done lately doesn't mean they should be itching to face LA in the playoffs yet again.
The Dodgers' pitching staff isn't as good as in years past, but Clayton Kershaw is still a beast, and guys like Julio Urias and Bobby Miller are capable of dominating any lineup. The Dodger bullpen is also one of the better ones in all of baseball and is loaded with guys who have experience playing in the pressure cooker that is the playoffs.
Then there is the Dodger offense which shouldn't need any introduction. Again, the depth isn't there this season for LA but the top end is downright spooky. Both Mookie Betts and old friend Freddie Freeman are having MVP-caliber seasons and both of those guys are capable of carrying an offense regardless of who is on the mound. Max Muncy is feast or famine but remains very dangerous and Will Smith is probably the best-hitting catcher in baseball right now. Again, not the kind of guys you want to be facing with the season on the line.
The obvious good news is that the Braves have just shown that they are more than capable of beating the Dodgers this year and on their home turf no less. It also doesn't hurt that with last night's win, the Braves own the season series tiebreaker over LA which makes it even likelier that the Braves will have home-field advantage if/when the teams meet.