Braves vs Dodgers NLDS Game 2 Lines & Prediction

Braves vs Dodgers NLDS Game 2 Lines & Prediction

Written by on October 4, 2018


Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw takes the mound on Friday, Oct. 5 looking to shut down surprise NL East Division winning Atlanta in Game 2 of the National League Divisional Series between the L.A. Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. Will Kershaw show up big time, or will the Braves punish the Dodgers’ best pitcher? Check out our analysis and a free pick when the L.A. Dodgers battle the Atlanta Braves.

Braves vs Dodgers NLDS Game 2 Lines & Prediction

Weather Forecast

  • Clear: 18°C/65°F
  • Humidity: 83%
  • Precipitation: 5%
  • Wind: 2 mph SW
  • Cloud Cover: 4%
  • Type of Stadium: Open

Why the Atlanta Braves are a good bet on the money line?


Atlanta’s no quit attitude led to an improbable NL East Division title. Although on paper the Braves look overmatched in this series, because Atlanta won’t ever quit, they’ll punish the Dodgers if L.A. becomes complacent.

Braves manager Brian Snitker is excellent at strategizing before the first pitch and then making in game adjustments. Snitker won’t allow the Dodgers to run away with Game 2.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Runs/G: 4.69
  • BA: .257
  • OPS: .742
  • HR: 175
  • SB: 90
Defense:
  • ERA: 3.75
  • WHIP: 1.28
  • KS: 1,423
  • Quality Starts: 70
  • Errors: 80

Why the L.A. Dodgers are a good bet on the money line?

Are the Dodgers a safe bet for NLDS Game 2?
The Dodgers went 2-5 straight up versus the Atlanta Braves during the regular season. Although the Dodgers struggled with many teams during the season, they didn’t struggle to beat the Atlanta Braves.

Los Angeles’ should score plenty of runs against Braves’ starter Anibal Sanchez. In an 8-2 victory over Atlanta on July 26, the Dodgers blasted Sanchez with 4 earned runs off 7 hits.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Runs/G: 4.93
  • BA: .250
  • OPS: .774
  • HR: 235
  • SB: 75
Defense:
  • ERA: 3.38
  • WHIP: 1.15
  • KS: 1,565
  • Quality Starts: 79
  • Errors: 100

Braves vs Dodgers MLB Betting Trends

 
  • Atlanta is 1-5 ATS in the last 6 games
  • Atlanta is 1-5 SU in the last 6 games
  • The total went UNDER in 5 of Atlanta’s last 6 games
  • LA Dodgers is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 games
  • LA Dodgers is 5-0 SU in the last 5 games
  • The total went UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers’s last 5 games when playing Atlanta
 

Final MLB Betting Analysis for Braves vs Dodgers


Los Angeles owns Atlanta. It doesn’t help the Braves’ cause that the Dodgers send ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound on Friday. Kershaw pitched better in the second half of the season than he did in the first half.

He ended up with a 2.73 ERA to go along with a 9-5 record, and a 1.05 WHIP. Kershaw holds the Braves to a .204 batting average. Even if Kershaw has a bad game, the Braves will be hard-pressed to get to the Dodgers’ bullpen. L.A. relievers have a 3.72 ERA.

Los Angeles could run Sanchez off the mound before the 5th inning. Once that happens, Atlanta must turn to its bullpen, which hasn’t been nearly as strong as the Dodgers’ BP in the second half of the season. Braves relievers rank 17th in team ERA at 4.15.

So, unless Atlanta comes up with a different strategy to beat the L.A. Dodgers, one that they didn’t show during the regular season, the Dodgers should take down the Atlanta Braves on Friday.

Clayton Kershaw and L.A. should be a massive favorite, which means MLB bettors should consider a wager on the run line. Dodgers beat Braves by at least 2 runs on Oct. 5.

NLDS Game 2 Pick: Dodgers run line