Following a dramatic comeback that will go down in MLB postseason history, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to even their NLCS with the Atlanta Braves when the clubs return to the field on Wednesday’s sports betting card.
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 – 08:08 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
Tuesday was all about late rallies in the two league championship series, the Houston Astros exploding in the top of the ninth for a 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox that evened the ALCS and Los Angeles wiping out a 3-run deficit in the eighth for a 6-5 win over Atlanta. The final MLB score marked the second consecutive ‘over’ winner in the series and left the Braves and Dodgers 6-4 O/U in their two playoff sets the past couple of seasons.
The win also reestablished Los Angeles as the team to beat on the baseball futures board. Even though the Dodgers still trail the Braves in the NLCS two games to one, but LA has regained its position as the top favorite to win the World Series now that home-field advantage has been leveled with Atlanta.
Braves to Bullpen Game 4 Battle
Now, if we only knew what pitching plans Atlanta skipper Brian Snitker had for Game 4. The Braves will go the bullpen route for the contest while Julio Urias (21-3, 2.98) gets the call for Los Angeles. Once Atlanta’s plans become clearer, we expect to see the Dodgers priced around -200 at the best sportsbooks with the total in the 8-8½ range.
At least there are only so many ways Snitker and the Braves can go. All indications are AJ Minter, Drew Smyly and Huascar Ynoa will be cobbled together to hopefully get Atlanta through the first 5-6 innings on Wednesday. One option is AJ Minter, who worked scoreless innings of relief in Games 2 and 3. Smyly, who hasn’t pitched since the final weekend of the regular season, and Ynoa are each capable of throwing 2+ innings.
Urias beat the Braves twice during the regular season, combining to pitch 11 innings with three runs allowed. All three of those runs came home on solo homers, Jorge Soler and Freddie Freeman going back-to-back in the August 30th contest in Los Angeles, and Freeman also delivering clout in the June 4th outing in Atlanta. Those are the only hits Freeman has against Urias in their encounters over the years.
Bellinger’s Blast Shifted Momentum
Freeman looked dead in the water when he struck out seven times in his first eight NLCS at bats. That changed Tuesday night when the 2020 NL MVP stroked three singles to pace a 12-hit Atlanta attack. He ignited a 4-run second inning for the Braves that completely silenced the crowd at Dodger Stadium, and Joc Pederson continued his fine postseason with two more hits and another RBI in Game 3.
The Chavez Ravine crowd came back to life in the bottom of the eighth thanks to one swing of the bat by Cody Bellinger. Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, suffered through a horrible season in which he batted a puny .165 and was limited to 95 games due to injuries. The home run in Game 3 was Bellinger’s first of the postseason, and completely turned the momentum around in LA’s favor while deflating the Braves.
Umpire Notes, Tinseltown Forecast and a Free Pick
Following crew chief Jerry Meals to the dish for Game 4 will be James Hoye, who was also part of Meals’ gang that worked the AL Wild Card Game. A veteran of 19 seasons at the major league level, Hoye made 31 plate assignments in 2021 with a tendency of helping ‘over’ bettors (18-11-2 O/U/P). This is the 11th postseason series for the Ohio native, and this will be his seventh time to call balls and strikes on the playoffs. One of those was Game 7 of last year’s NLCS between the Braves and Dodgers, which fell short of an 8½-run total.
There will be some clouds moving into the Los Angeles area when the game gets underway a little after 5 o’clock local time. The weatherman is also telling us to expect temps in the upper-60s most of the contest along with a 4-6 mph SW breeze (out to right).
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts took heat for using Urias in Game 2 of the series Sunday night in Atlanta. If the Braves jump on the young lefty early, more heat is forthcoming. But I’m expecting Urias to at least get LA through the fourth, maybe the fifth, on his 75 tosses, and my MLB pick fully expects the Dodgers to ride the momentum to a series-tying victory.
MLB Pick: Dodgers (-210) at YouWager (visit our YouWager Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
