Dodgers vs. Braves: NLCS Game 2 betting odds, preview, and prediction

Sunday’s standalone MLB postseason tilt features the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the NLCS. The Braves took the series opener, 3-2, on Saturday night behind a quality start from Max Fried (two earned runs over six innings) and another clutch performance from third baseman Austin Riley, who had both the game-tying and game-winning RBIs.

Let’s dive into the matchup for Game 2 and see if the Dodgers can even things up, of if Atlanta will hold serve at home.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves, 7:38 p.m. ET, TBS

The Dodgers are prohibitive road favorites for Game 2 with Max Scherzer on the mound, but underdog bettors shouldn’t have any qualms in hitching their wagon to Ian Anderson and the Braves on Sunday night.

Scherzer finally looked like his old self against the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS after suffering three uninspiring starts in a row, including 4 1/3 laborious innings in the Wild Card Game against the St. Louis Cardinals. “Mad Max” pitched seven innings of one-run ball in Game 3 of the NLDS – an eventual 1-0 loss – before earning the save in the decisive Game 5.

They key to victory for Atlanta will be working Scherzer’s pitch count up and forcing L.A. manager Dave Roberts to go to his bullpen early. The fact that Blake Treinen – one of the Dodgers’ better relievers – showed some signs of fatigue and cracked in Game 1 is a sign that this bullpen may begin to suffer from overwork.

Anderson, as many will recall, faced the Dodgers twice in the 2020 NLCS and allowed only two earned runs over seven combined innings. It was part of a sensational postseason run for the then-rookie from New York (0.96 ERA over 18 2/3 innings). Anderson picked where he left off playoff-wise with five innings of shutout baseball against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, tossing just 84 pitches.

Bettors shouldn’t be shocked if he’s very stingy on the mound before handing things off to the Braves bullpen, which has allowed only two earned runs over 17 2/3 combined innings thus far this postseason.

MLB pick: Braves +155

Player prop pick: Freddie Freeman Over 0.5 Hits (-225)

After coming up clutch in Game 4 of the NLDS with three hits – including the game-winning homer in the bottom of the eighth inning – Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman promptly went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Game 1 of the NLCS.

Bettors should dismiss Saturday night’s effort as a total fluke for the reigning NL MVP, and bank on him to get back into the hit column in this spot.