Atlanta Braves vs La Dodgers Dodgers Picks and Predictions September 16th 2024

First pitch for Monday’s matchup between the Dodgers and Braves is set for 7:20 PM ET from Truist Park in Atlanta. The Braves are 3rd in the NL East and have an overall record of 81-68, while the Dodgers are 1st in the NL West and have an overall record of 88-61.

Los Angeles comes into the game as the slight money line favorite, with their odds sitting at -112 compared to the Braves at -106. The over/under line is currently at 7.5 runs, and SNLA will be televising this NL matchup.

Los Angeles vs. Atlanta Key Information

Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the start for the Dodgers today as he faces the Braves on the road. He has made 15 starts this season and has a record of 6-2 with an ERA of 2.77. Yamamoto’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.05. Out of his 15 starts, he has turned in seven quality starts and is averaging 10.62 strikeouts per nine innings. Yamamoto’s last outing came on September 10th, where he finished with a no-decision, going four innings and giving up one earned run on three hits. He was strong in that outing, striking out eight batters.

Shohei Ohtani has been the Dodgers’ top power threat this season, as his 47 homers are the 2nd most in the league and the most on the team. He is also 4th in the MLB with 106 RBIs. Ohtani is batting .290 for the season and comes into the game with a seven-game hitting streak. Teoscar Hernandez is also a big power threat for the Dodgers, as he has 29 homers, which is 11th in the league.

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Overall, the Dodgers have been one of the best offensive teams in the league this season, as they are 3rd in scoring at 5 runs per game and are also 3rd in home runs. They have been especially good at home, averaging 5 runs per contest. The team’s collective batting average of .254 is 6th in the league.

Max Fried will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Nationals, as he gets the start for the Braves vs. the Dodgers today. In that outing, which came on September 11th, he took the loss, giving up four earned runs in six innings of work. Looking back over his last four outings, Fried has alternated between wins and losses. His record for the season is 9-9, and he has an ERA of 3.46. This year, opponents are batting .232 vs. Fried. He has two complete games and one shutout this year, along with 13 quality starts. Fried’s ERA at home is 4.75 compared to 5.63 on the road.

Marcell Ozuna has been one of the league’s top power threats this season, as his 37 homers are the best mark on the Braves and 5th best in the MLB. He also comes into the game with a team-high 98 RBIs and is batting .304 for the season. Matt Olson is 2nd on the team with 25 homers and 87 RBIs but is hitting just .239 for the season. However, Olson has been hot of late, going 12/33 in his last nine games.

As a team, the Braves are 6th in the league in home runs and are averaging 4.3 runs per game. They have been a better offensive team on the road this season, averaging 4.6 runs per contest. Overall, they are batting .241, which is 15th in the league, and are 12th in slugging percentage.

Today’s Dodgers and Braves matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 8th lowest-scoring game of today’s slate. For an over/under pick, we are leaning towards the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we like the Dodgers to come out on top. Los Angeles starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto is 5th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts, and Max Fried is 3rd worst.

Dodgers Look to Carry Momentum into Series Finale vs. Braves

The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to build on the momentum from their thrilling come-from-behind win as they face the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a four-game series on Monday. After dropping the first two games of the series, the Dodgers mounted a stunning rally in the ninth inning on Sunday, scoring seven runs — including three consecutive home runs — to defeat the Braves 9-2.

The victory was crucial for the Dodgers (88-61), who had lost four of their previous five games before Sunday’s explosion. They remain in the hunt for the best record in the National League, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by two games. Additionally, the Dodgers hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West, giving them a cushion as they head into the final weeks of the season.

Braves Missed Opportunity to Gain Ground

The Braves (81-68) saw a golden opportunity slip away as they were unable to take advantage of the New York Mets’ loss earlier in the day. Atlanta remains tied with the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot, making Monday’s series finale even more significant for their playoff aspirations.

Despite the tough loss on Sunday, Braves manager Brian Snitker remained optimistic about the series.

“We’ve had a really good series,” Snitker said. “Other than one inning, it’s been a good series between two really good teams. It’s what you’d expect. I like who we have on the mound (Monday), and they like who they have on the mound. It should be another really good game.”
Max Fried Takes the Mound for Braves

The Braves will turn to left-hander Max Fried (9-9, 3.46 ERA) to help them bounce back in the series finale. Fried is coming off a rough outing against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, where he allowed four runs on a career-high 11 hits over six innings, marking the first time in 29 games that an Atlanta starter had given up more than three runs.

Despite the loss, Snitker praised Fried’s ability to keep the Braves in the game.

“He kept the game manageable,” Snitker said. “We just couldn’t get anything going. You’re going to have that, too. You can’t win 3-1 all the time. You have to consistently score more runs.”

Fried has faced the Dodgers nine times in his career, going 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA. In his last start against Los Angeles on May 5, he allowed four runs over seven innings in a losing effort.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Returns to Form for Dodgers

Los Angeles will counter with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.77 ERA), who will make his second start since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him in June. Yamamoto looked sharp in his comeback start last Tuesday, allowing just one unearned run on three hits with eight strikeouts over four innings. He threw only 59 pitches in the outing.

“I think it was a much better comeback start than I expected,” Yamamoto said. “I think the feel I had today was some of the best that I’ve had this year.”

Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes echoed Yamamoto’s confidence, praising the pitcher’s fastball, curveball, and splitter.

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“Everything looked good — his fastball, his curveball, split. It was pretty surprising. I didn’t know how he was going to look coming back, but he looked better than ever,” Barnes said. “It’s a big boost. Looking forward to seeing some more.”

Yamamoto has never faced the Braves in his career, making Monday’s game an intriguing matchup.

Dodgers’ Late-Game Heroics Against Iglesias

Sunday’s victory was sealed by a seven-run rally in the ninth inning, with five of those runs coming off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias. The Dodgers’ hitters connected for back-to-back-to-back home runs against the typically reliable Iglesias, who had not allowed an earned run in his previous 30 appearances.

“It’s one of those things,” Snitker said. “It’s a tough game. It was bound to happen. What a run he’s had and this is just a little glitch. Hats off to them because they hit a really good pitcher.”

The Dodgers will look to carry that momentum into Monday’s game as they aim for a series split. Meanwhile, the Braves hope to shake off Sunday’s late-game disappointment and secure a crucial victory in the playoff race.