The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Truist Park to face the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, August 26, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM ET. Roki Sasaki gets the ball for Los Angeles against Atlanta's AJ Smith-Shawver in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup between two franchises that know each other well. With the regular season in its final stretch, every game in a series like this carries real weight, and the Dodgers will be looking to come away with a win on the road against one of the National League's perennial contenders.
Dodgers at Braves: Starting Pitchers for August 26
Roki Sasaki takes the mound for the Dodgers. The right-hander made the jump from Japan's NPB to Major League Baseball and has been one of the more closely watched arms on the Los Angeles staff. Sasaki's ability to miss bats with a high-velocity fastball and a sharp splitter gives the Dodgers a legitimate weapon in a road environment that can be tough on visiting pitchers.
Opposing him is AJ Smith-Shawver for Atlanta. The young right-hander is part of a Braves pitching pipeline that has consistently produced live arms, and he'll be looking to keep Los Angeles's lineup in check in front of the Truist Park crowd.
Three Keys to Watch for the Dodgers
- Sasaki's command early: Road starts can be an adjustment, and the Dodgers need Sasaki to establish his splitter and limit free passes in the first few innings. If he's sharp through the lineup once, Los Angeles is in a strong position.
- Dodgers offense against a young starter: Smith-Shawver has the arm to be difficult, but Los Angeles has the lineup depth to work counts and put pressure on a pitcher still building his MLB track record. Getting into the Atlanta bullpen early matters.
- Bullpen management: Late-inning situations in Atlanta can get loud and complex. How the Dodgers manage their relief corps behind Sasaki — particularly if he exits before the seventh — could define the outcome.
Prediction
This is the kind of mid-week road game where pitching and patience win. Sasaki has the stuff to keep the Braves lineup manageable, and the Dodgers have enough offensive firepower to do damage against a developing starter. Atlanta is never an easy out at Truist Park, but Los Angeles is built to grind out wins in exactly these situations. Dodgers take this one, 4–2.
Catch the game on SportsNet LA, MLB Network, or Dodgers Radio AM570. Spanish-language coverage is available on La Mejor and KTNQ 1020.
