Braves vs Dodgers MLB Betting Odds, Pitchers, Prediction

A wildly entertaining National League Championship Series is set to continue this evening in a different venue. Game 3 between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers sees the action move from Truist Park to Dodger Stadium in SoCal. After earning back-to-back walk-off victories in the first two games of this series, the Braves have an opportunity to move within one win of a World Series berth tonight. Meanwhile, the Dodgers will look to climb back into things at home. The MLB betting odds have named the home team a sizable favorite ahead of this Braves vs Dodgers showdown.

This MLB betting preview for Braves vs Dodgers NLCS Game 3 includes game info, projected starting pitchers, betting odds, trends and a prediction for this postseason matchup.

Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview and Prediction | MLB Playoffs Game 3

NLCS Game 3 (ATL leads series 2-0)
Atlanta Braves (88-73, 46-35 Away) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (106-58, 58-23 Home)
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021
Time: 5:08 p.m. EST
Venue: Dodger Stadium — Los Angeles, CA
Coverage: TBS

Braves vs Dodgers Starting Pitchers

Braves: Charlie Morton (14-6, 3.34 ERA)
Dodgers: Walker Buehler (16-4, 2.47 ERA)

Atlanta Braves Preview

Entering this NLCS, the Braves were the biggest series underdog to have home-field advantage in postseason history. Well, Atlanta has bucked the MLB betting odds and trends thus far, capturing each of the first two games in this NLCS in thrilling fashion. After delivering the walk-off hit in Game 1, Austin Riley came up clutch again in Game 2 with a game-tying knock in the 8th inning. Eddie Rosario followed it up with a walk-off base hit in the bottom of the 9th, driving in Dansby Swanson with the winning run. That winner was one of Rosario’s four total hits in Game 2. The month of “Joctober” also continued as Joc Pederson, started the Braves offense with a two-run homer in the 4th.

Another battle. Another WIN.#BattleATL pic.twitter.com/CaMdWaN2kS
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 18, 2021

One additional element of this series that cannot be understated is the fact that the Braves have managed to win the first two games without any offensive contributions from the reigning NL MVP, Freddie Freeman. After donning the dubious golden sombrero in Game 1, Freeman struck out three more times on Sunday in Game 2. One has to imagine Freeman will get righted around sooner than later.

Taking the mound in Game 3 for Brian Snitker will be right-hander Charlie Morton. On the heels of a World Series run with the Tampa Bay Rays last year, Morton brought plenty of veteran postseason experience with him to Atlanta. He won 14 games during the regular season, racking up 216 strikeouts and a 1.09 WHIP in the process. Morton fanned 14 Milwaukee Brewers over 9.1 innings in his two NLDS starts, the second of which came on short rest. He sparkled in his most recent outing against the Dodgers at the end of August, tossing eight K’s and allowing just one run over six innings.

Los Angeles Dodgers Preview

After a nail-biter NLDS series, the Dodgers are now facing an 0-2 deficit as MLB betting favorites in the NLCS. Luckily, the next three games of this series all come at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles went 58-23 there during the regular season and has won 17 of the last 18 games played at home. Many questioned the decision of Dave Roberts to yank ace Max Scherzer after just 4.1 innings on Sunday. While it worked out initially, the Dodgers’ bullpen faltered down the stretch. After going with the opener strategy in Game 1, a day off for travel was just what the L.A. pitching staff needed. NL Cy Young Award candidate Walker Buehler will start Game 3. He was effective in both division series outings and posted a sub-1.00 WHIP on the season.

The other concern for the Dodgers to address as the series shifts to SoCal is their offense. For all the stars that adorn the Los Angeles lineup, the production has been very inconsistent throughout the postseason thus far. Perhaps the loss of Max Muncy looms larger than some MLB betting analysts originally projected. The Dodgers could only muster four total hits in Game 2, one of which was a 1st-inning two-run homer by Corey Seager. Mookie Betts and Will Smith each had a hit and also combined for five walks and three runs scored in the loss. While the Dodgers had traffic on the bases throughout, thanks to nine bases on balls drawn as a team, the lack of timely hitting cost them once again.