Upcoming Match-ups

2018 NLDS Series Prices: Braves vs Dodgers and Rockies vs Brewers

Ryan Murphy

by Ryan Murphy in MLB Baseball

Updated Mar 27, 2020 · 9:18 AM PDT

Freddie Freeman throws the ball.
Freddie Freeman and the Braves are hoping to make some noise in October. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr).
  • The two NLDS series are set with the Braves battling the Dodgers and the Rockies tangling with the Brewers
  • Can the Dodgers advance to the World Series for the second straight year?
  • Will MVP front-runner Christian Yelich power Milwaukee past Colorado? 

It took 163 games and an epic 13-inning marathon to get here, but we finally have our two National League Division Series matchups.  The NL East champion Braves will battle the NL West champion Dodgers, and the Rockies will take on the hard-charging Brewers.

We have the series prices for both NLDS dust-ups below, along with a full statistical breakdown and a detailed analysis of what you should expect when these clubs clash.

Braves vs Dodgers NLDS Odds

BRAVES DODGERS
+190 -230

You’re not alone if you didn’t expect the Braves to still be playing in October. Bookmakers had Atlanta’s odds of winning the World Series as distant as +17500 when the season begun. Much of the credit for their sensational season goes to their superb pitching staff and the emergence of rookie phenom Ronald Acuna Jr., who hit .293 with 26 home runs and 64 RBIs during his first season in Atlanta.

Bookmakers had Atlanta’s odds of winning the World Series as distant as +17500 when the season begun.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, almost didn’t get here at all despite opening the 2018 season with +500 odds. They endured injuries to a slew of starters and had to pull off a blockbuster trade for Manny Machado just to sneak past the Rockies and slide into the postseason. It wasn’t pretty at times, but Los Angeles finished the year on a high note, winning four straight and crushing Colorado in their tie-breaker game.

Braves vs Dodgers Statistical Comparison

braves
VS
dodgers
90-72 RECORD 92-71
+102 (8th) RUN DIFFERENTIAL +194 (3rd)
.257 (5th) TEAM BATTING AVERAGE .250 (14th)
175 (19th) TEAM HOME RUNS 235 (2nd)
.324 (11th) TEAM OBP .333 (5th)
 .417 (11th) TEAM SLUGGING .442 (3rd)
 .742 (11th) TEAM OPS .774 (3rd)
4.15 (17th)  BULLPEN ERA 3.72 (8th)
2-5  2018 HEAD-TO-HEAD 5-2

No team has more star power than the Dodgers, who can field a line-up with All-Stars at eight of their nine positions. The lone exception is first base, where Max Muncy led the club with 35 dingers and would be the best player on many Big League teams.

LA is also blessed with the league’s best depth, which should allow manager Dave Roberts to roll out some funky line-ups to counter Atlanta’s biggest strengths. Expect to see plenty of mixing and matching and heroics from different players on a nightly basis.

The Braves don’t have as many household names as the Dodgers, but they do have plenty of players capable of blowing open a game. Johan Carmago, Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, and Acuna all hit 19 or more home runs and are liable to go yard in any given at bat. Freeman, in particular was outstanding this season, and was in the top three in NL MVP odds for much of the year before fading slightly in September.

Braves vs Dodgers Probable Pitching Matchups

braves
VS
dodgers
Mike Foltynewicz (13-10, 2.85 ERA) Game 1 Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3, 1.97 ERA)
N/A Game 2 Clayton Kershaw (9-5, 2.73 ERA)

Dave Roberts surprised many by choosing Ryu to start Game 1 of the NLDS, but the 31-year-old deserves the nod. Ryu has won his last three starts and gave up just five earned runs in 30 innings during the month of September. He’s locked in and ready to get the Dodgers off to a fast start.

YouTube video

Up next is Clayton Kershaw, who was rocked in his last start against the Giants. He’s been hot and cold since returning from the DL, but the three-time Cy Young winner is a proven postseason performer with 19 playoff starts to his name. Count on him turning things around when it matter most.

Series Pick: Dodgers

The Braves are far ahead of schedule thanks to the development of Acuna and Albies, but the Dodgers are the team of destiny. They have superior hitting, pitching, and positional depth, and are close to peak health after dealing with injuries all season. Tune in early, because this series will be over in four games.

Rockies vs Brewers NLDS Odds

ROCKIES BREWERS
+125 -155

No team has been on a bigger emotional roller coaster lately than the Rockies,  who lost to the Dodgers 5-2 in their tie-breaker game on Monday, and then downed the Cubs in a five-hour, 13-inning marathon the following night. Colorado won the one game they couldn’t afford to lose, but it’s fair to wonder how much those two games – and those multiple flights – took out of the club.

The Rockies will be facing a slightly fresher squad in the Brewers, who won their play-in game against the Cubs on Monday. Milwaukee has now won eight straight and 20 of their last 27 contests. They’re peaking at just the right moment thanks in part to Christian Yelich. The 26-year-old led the league in batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS this season, and has emerged as the clear front-runner for the NL MVP award.

Rockies vs Brewers Statistical Comparison

rockies
VS
brewers
91-72 RECORD 96-67
+36 (14th) RUN DIFFERENTIAL +95 (9th)
.256 (6th) TEAM BATTING AVERAGE .252 (12th)
210 (8th) TEAM HOME RUNS 218 (4th)
.322 (13th) TEAM OBP .323 (12th)
.435 (5th) TEAM SLUGGING .424 (9th)
.757 (6th) TEAM OPS .747 (9th)
4.62 ERA (26th)  BULLPEN ERA 3.47 (5th)
2-5  2018 HEAD-TO-HEAD 5-2

The Rockies and Brewers both possess exceptional power and an ability to put runs on the board. The real difference – and it’s a big one – is pitching. Colorado’s hurlers ranked 20th in ERA and 17th in Batting Average Against in 2018. Milwaukee, meanwhile, ranked fifth in ERA and BAA, and fourth in quality starts.

Milwaukee ranked fifth in the Majors in ERA and BAA, and fourth in quality starts.

The Brewers also have a huge advantage late in games thanks to their vastly superior bullpen. Closer Corey Knebel was named National League Reliever of the Month in September and first-time All-Star Josh Hader fanned 143 batters in just 81.1 innings. Toss in Jeremy Jeffress and his minuscule 1.29 ERA, and you have a group that knows how to shut down rallies before they even begin.

NLDS Pick: Brewers

The Brewers beat up on a lot of clubs this season, but they really clobbered the Rockies, outscoring them 40-31 over the course of seven lopsided games. Both teams will continue to score their fair share of runs early in games, but Milwaukee will take control from the sixth inning onwards thanks to their spectacular bullpen. Expect plenty of 1-2-3 innings and a four-game series victory for the Brewers.

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