Braves vs Dodgers Odds, Betting Lines, and Probable Pitchers (August 30)

• The Los Angeles Dodgers are -200 favorites over the Atlanta Braves on Monday (August 30th, 10:10 pm ET)
• LA will give the ball to Julio Urias (14-3, 3.17 ERA), while Atlanta will counter with Drew Smyly (9-3, 4.54 ERA)
• Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction

It’s a rematch of last year’s NLCS starting on Monday (August 30th) in Los Angeles. The hometown Dodgers, who currently occupy the top Wild Card position, host the NL East leading Braves who just took two of three from the league leading San Francisco Giants.

Braves vs Dodgers Odds

Odds as of August 29th at DraftKings.

LA meanwhile, just dropped two of three at home to the lowly Colorado Rockies, but still opened up as a heavy favorite.

First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 pm ET, on what should be a beautiful night for baseball at Dodger Stadium.

Probable Pitchers

LA will give the ball to Julio Urias, who hasn’t allowed a run in back-to-back starts. The 25-year-old has yielded just three hits total in those two outings, and dating back to the start of July, he’s surrendered one earned run or less in seven of his past nine starts.

Smyly vs Urias

Urias is tied for the league lead in wins, while ranking 12th in FIP and 15th in WAR. He gave Dodger fans a bit of a scare earlier this month when he was placed on the injured list with a calf contusion, but he put any worries to bed in his first action back last Tuesday.

Urias threw five innings of one-hit ball versus the rival San Diego Padres, en route to his fifth straight victory. He’s yet to face the Braves in 2021, but the current Atlanta batters he has faced in the past have not fared well. Active Braves hitters are a combined 5-for-23 against him lifetime, and have crossed the plate just once.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Atlanta will counter with Drew Smyly, who hasn’t pitched nearly as well as his 9-3 record suggests this season. The 32-year-old has allowed at least three runs in four of his past five starts, and has made it out of the 5th inning just twice over his past six outings.

A year after posting a 0.68 HR/9 rate with the Giants, Smyly’s been taken deep 23 times in 111 innings. He’s allowing a hard hit rate of 36.3%, and is fresh off surrendering three homers to the bottom feeding Baltimore Orioles.

That's one way to do a two-out rally. pic.twitter.com/PUBSVgouKC

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 22, 2021

A date with the high powered Dodgers on Monday spells trouble for the lefty, as LA leads the NL in runs, and ranks third in OPS and fourth in slugging.

Braves vs Dodgers Pick

These are two of the hottest teams in baseball over the last month, as Atlanta has reeled off 18 wins in its past 23 contests, while LA is 17-4 over its past 21.

The Braves are actually 12-1 overall in Smyly’s last 13 starts, but the one loss came against the only true World Series contender they’ve faced during that stretch. That night, the Tampa Bay Rays touched up Smyly for four runs over 5.2 innings, and given his inability to go deep into games lately, it makes sense to target the Dodgers early.

Yo holmes, Snell ya later! pic.twitter.com/YtXrxQ1t9K

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 26, 2021

The defending champs, and current World Series favorites, have seven players on pace to hit at least 20 home runs this season, and with Mookie Betts back in the lineup, there isn’t an easy out to be found. Expect LA to rough up Smyly early, and for Urias’ dominant form to continue.

Pick: Dodgers -1 First 5 Innings (+100)