Los Angeles Dodgers (22-10, first in NL West) vs. Atlanta Braves (14-17, third in NL East)
When: Saturday, May 3rd, 7:15 PM (ET)
Where: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: FOX, MLB.TV (Dodgers), FOX Deportes
Point Spread: LAD -1.5/ATL +1.5
Total: 8.5 runs (over -105, under -115)
Money Line: Los Angeles Dodgers -110 / Atlanta Braves -109
Notable Injuries
Dodgers
- Tyler Glasnow (15-Day IL) Shoulder
- Blake Snell (15-Day IL) Shoulder
- Tommy Edman (Day-to-Day) Ankle
- Multiple players on 60-Day IL
Braves
- Ronald Acuna Jr. (10-Day IL) Knee
- Spencer Strider (15-Day IL) Hamstring
- DaRon Holmes II (Out) Achilles
- Several players on 60-Day IL
Pitching Matchup
Saturday’s game features a compelling duel between two promising young right-handers. The Dodgers will send Japanese star Roki Sasaki (0-1, 3.55 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 20 strikeouts) to the mound against Braves standout Spencer Schwellenbach (1-2, 2.87 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 33 strikeouts).
Sasaki is still seeking his first MLB win after six starts in his debut season. Despite the winless record, he’s shown flashes of the elite talent that made him one of baseball’s most coveted international prospects. Schwellenbach has been a bright spot in Atlanta’s rotation, posting an impressive WHIP under 1.00 and demonstrating excellent command.
Recent Form
The Dodgers enter Saturday’s contest riding a six-game winning streak after defeating the Braves 2-1 on Friday night. In that pitcher’s duel, Yoshinobu Yamamoto dominated with six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, while Mookie Betts provided the offense with a home run.
Los Angeles has been one of MLB’s most consistent teams, building a substantial lead in the NL West with their 22-10 record. Meanwhile, the Braves (14-17) continue to underperform expectations but have shown improvement recently after a disastrous 0-7 start to the season.
In Friday’s series opener, the Braves’ Grant Holmes set a career high with nine strikeouts while allowing just two runs on four hits over six solid innings. However, Atlanta’s offense couldn’t generate enough support, managing only a late home run from Matt Olson.
Betting Trends
- The Dodgers have been excellent as road favorites, going 7-7 straight up and posting a 3-2 ATS record in their last five road games.
- Los Angeles has gone over the total in 18 of 32 games this season (56.3%).
- Atlanta has struggled at home recently with a 1-2 record in their last three home games, going 1-1-1 against the spread.
- The Braves have been solid as home underdogs, covering in 4 of their last 5 games in that role.
- In head-to-head matchups this season, the Dodgers hold a perfect 5-0 record against Atlanta.
- The under is 3-2 in the last five meetings between these teams, with games averaging 213 total runs.
Key Matchups to Watch
Teoscar Hernandez leads the Dodgers’ offense with 9 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .303 batting average. Shohei Ohtani has been electric with a .381 OBP and .538 slugging percentage, while Mookie Betts continues to provide consistent production with 5 homers on the season.
For Atlanta, Matt Olson has found his power stroke with 5 home runs and 24 walks. Alex Verdugo has been hot at the plate, going 15-for-43 with five doubles over his past 10 games.
Expert Pick
With two talented young pitchers facing off, this matchup has all the ingredients for another close contest. While the Dodgers have dominated the season series so far, the Braves have shown improvement and Schwellenbach gives them a legitimate chance to compete. The tight money line reflects how close this game should be.
The slightly better value lies with Atlanta +1.5 runs on the run line. Schwellenbach’s strong command metrics give him an edge over the still-adjusting Sasaki, and the Braves’ offense is due for a breakout after being mostly silenced in Friday’s opener. Even if Los Angeles extends their winning streak, the margin should be narrow.
Prediction: Braves +1.5 (-110)
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