The Atlanta Braves look to finish off the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series Friday at 9:08 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas (on FS1). Atlanta will be the home team one more time in the 2-3-2 format. Below, we analyze the Dodgers-Braves MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Best-of-seven series: Braves lead 3-1 after Thursday’s 10-2 win. Rookie SP Bryse Wilson (6 IP, 1 ER, 1 H) and four relievers combined to 3-hit Los Angeles, while Atlanta’s offense knocked out SP Clayton Kershaw during a 6-run sixth inning. DH Marcell Ozuna ripped two solo home runs.
Dodgers vs. Braves: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Dustin May vs. LHP A.J. Minter
May went 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA (56 IP, 16 ER) in 10 starts and two relief appearances in 2020. He’s 1-0 with 4 2/3 scoreless innings this postseason in one start and two bullpen outings.
- Last outing (NLCS Game 1 on Monday): Entered in top of seventh with game tied 1-1. Pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just 1 hit and 1 BB with 2 K’s. Braves scored 4 in the ninth to win 5-1.
- Career vs. Braves in regular season: 0-1, 18.00 ERA (2 IP, 4 ER) in 1 relief appearance.
- Career postseason: 1-0, 1.13 ERA (8 IP, 1 ER) in 5 games, including 1 start.
This is a bullpen game for the Braves as Minter will make his first career start. He was 1-1 with a 0.83 ERA (21 2/3 IP, 2 ER) in 22 regular-season games out of the bullpen. The lefty is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA (2 1/3 IP, 1 ER) in 3 playoff games this fall.
- Last outing (NLCS Game 2 on Tuesday): Surrendered a 3-run HR to Dodgers SS Corey Seager, the first batter he faced after entering with 2 runners on and 1 out with the Braves up 7-0 in the bottom of the 7th inning. Retired the next two batters to end the inning and didn’t return.
- Career vs. Dodgers: 0-0, 10.13 ERA (2 2/3 IP, 3 ER) in 3 regular-season games; 0-0, 3.37 ERA (2 2/3 IP, 1 ER) in 3 playoff outings.
- Career postseason: 1-0, 2.08 ERA (4 1/3 IP, 1 ER) in 5 games.
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Dodgers vs. Braves: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 3:45 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Braves 5, Dodgers 3
Money line (ML)
Back the BRAVES (+160) with a small-unit play – half your usual wager. The price is too good to pass up even with the Dodgers (-176) facing elimination.
New to sports betting? Every winning $1 bet on the Braves ML profits $1.60. Every $1.76 bet on the Dodgers ML profits $1 if they force a Game 6.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The BRAVES (+1.5, -106) are the play. This will come down to the bullpens with the Braves going the opener route and May on a short leash for the Dodgers (-1.5, -115).
All the pressure is on L.A., which is a plus for a really good Atlanta team.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 9 (-106) is worth a small-unit play – half your usual wager. While relievers have struggled in the NLCS … :
- Dodgers: 15 2/3 IP, 13 ER – 7.47 ERA
- Braves: 19 1/3 IP, 15 ER – 6.98 ERA
… both bullpens ranked among the best in the majors in the 2020 regular season:
- Dodgers (1st in NL, 2nd in MLB): – 2.74 ERA
- Braves (2nd, 4th): – 3.50 ERA
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
| Johnny’s 2020 MLB record | 75-53-1 |
| 2020 MLB postseason / Strongest plays | 11-16 / 4-8 |
| 2020 overall record (all sports) | 117-87-3 |
| Strongest plays (all sports) | 58-35-1 |
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