The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, on Tuesday, October 6, for a National League Division Series matchup against the Atlanta Braves. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM ET, with national coverage on FS1 and Fox Deportes, and radio calls available on Dodgers Radio AM570 and ESPN Radio. This is postseason baseball with real stakes — one series, no margin for error, and the Dodgers need Yoshinobu Yamamoto to be at his best against a dangerous Braves lineup anchored by Ronald Acuña Jr.

Pitching Matchup: Yamamoto vs. Sale

Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the ball for Los Angeles. The right-hander has been one of the central figures in the Dodgers' rotation, and the postseason stage is exactly the kind of moment the club brought him in to handle. Opposite him is Atlanta's Chris Sale, a left-hander with a long track record of rising in big games. Sale's delivery, angle, and ability to manipulate the strike zone make him a legitimate threat to neutralize any lineup. This is a genuine pitching duel on paper, and neither side is giving an inch.

Atlanta Braves Starting Lineup to Watch

• Drake Baldwin (C, 1st) — An unconventional choice to lead off, but the Braves are putting him at the top of the order, which means Atlanta sees something there worth exploiting early.
• Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF, 2nd) — The name every Dodgers pitcher has to account for. Acuña hitting second gives him more plate appearances and puts pressure on the Dodgers from the first inning onward.
• Matt Olson (1B, 3rd) — A power bat in the heart of the order who can change a game with one swing against any pitcher, including Yamamoto.
• Ozzie Albies (2B, 4th) — Cleaning up behind Olson, Albies adds another dangerous right-handed threat and the kind of contact ability that punishes mistake pitches.
• Michael Harris II (CF, 5th) — Athletic, capable of going gap to gap, and a legitimate run-producer further down a lineup that doesn't let up.
• Austin Riley (3B, 8th) — A power hitter tucked into the eight-hole is a reminder that this Braves order has no easy outs, even late in the lineup.

Keys to the Game for the Dodgers

Yamamoto Must Neutralize the Top of Atlanta's Order

Acuña at number two means he could see the plate four or five times. Yamamoto's ability to keep Atlanta off the bases in the first two innings will set the tone for the entire game. Letting Acuña and Olson get comfortable early is a recipe for a short outing.

Dodgers Offense Needs to Get to Sale Early

Sale is at his most dangerous when he's working deep into games and dictating at-bat tempo. The Dodgers' best path is patience, pitch count, and making him work. Getting into the Atlanta bullpen before the seventh inning changes the equation significantly in Los Angeles's favor.

Defensive Execution in a Road Playoff Environment

Truist Park will be loud and hostile. The Dodgers cannot afford miscues in the field or on the bases. In a tight postseason game between two quality clubs, one error or one missed opportunity on the bases can be the entire margin.

Prediction

This game is close from first pitch to last out. Yamamoto has the stuff to keep Atlanta's powerful lineup in check, but Sale is a difficult assignment for any offense in October. The Dodgers' depth and ability to grind at-bats should create enough offense to steal this one on the road. Dodgers 3, Braves 2 — a tight, low-scoring game that comes down to which bullpen blinks first.