Atlanta, Ga. – The Atlanta Braves have announced that left‑handed reliever Dylan Dodd will open Game 1 of the National League Division Series on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers this Saturday. The decision reflects the Braves’ confidence in Dodd’s ability to neutralize the Dodgers’ powerful left‑handed hitters.
Why Dodd Fits the Assignment
Dodd appeared in 48 games during the regular season, posting a 4‑1 record with a 2.54 ERA over 49 2/3 innings. He struck out 53 batters, walked 14 and allowed seven home runs. Notably, he limited left‑handed hitters to a .171 batting average and right‑handed hitters to .180, making him a versatile option against the Dodgers’ balanced lineup.
Dodgers’ Lineup Threatens
The Dodgers will field a potent batting order that includes left‑handed power hitters Shohei Ohtani (second), Freddie Freeman (fourth), Kyle Tucker (sixth) and Max Muncy (eighth). Switch‑hitter Tommy Edman will bat ninth. To counter this, Los Angeles is starting ace left‑hander Tarik Skubal, who will look to set the tone from the mound.
Braves’ Recent Pitching Strategy
Atlanta’s recent postseason approach mirrors the current plan. In the wild‑card round’s winner‑take‑all Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves opened with left‑handed reliever Ray Kerr, who delivered 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two. The Braves secured a 6‑2 victory and advanced to the Division Series, winning the series two games to one.
What to Expect
Dodd’s longest outing this season was three innings, achieved on April 12 and May 23. While it remains uncertain how deep he will go against a high‑powered Dodgers lineup, his strong per‑batter statistics give the Braves a solid chance to keep the game close early.
The NLDS matchup pits two of baseball’s most storied franchises against each other, and the opening pitch will set the tone for a series that could swing either way. Braves fans will be watching closely to see if Dodd can replicate his regular‑season success on the national stage.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
