The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, for an NLDS showdown against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, October 7, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM ET on FS1. This is postseason baseball at its most consequential — two franchises with championship pedigree, squaring off in the Division Series with October advancement on the line. Tyler Glasnow gets the ball for Los Angeles against Atlanta's Tyler Mahle. How this pitching duel unfolds could define the Dodgers' path forward in the 2026 playoffs.
Dodgers vs. Braves NLDS Pitching Matchup: Glasnow vs. Mahle
The Dodgers are sending Tyler Glasnow to the mound, and that choice speaks to how much Los Angeles trusts him in a high-leverage postseason spot. Glasnow's raw stuff — a mid-to-upper-90s fastball paired with a knee-buckling curveball — is built for October. When he's locked in and commanding both pitches, opposing lineups have little margin for error. The postseason stage suits his power profile.
Atlanta counters with Tyler Mahle, who gives the Braves a legitimate arm capable of keeping a deep Dodgers lineup off-balance. Mahle has the ability to work deep into games when his command is on point, and the Braves will need every inning they can extract from him in what figures to be a tightly contested affair. Truist Park will be rocking, and that home atmosphere is a genuine factor.
Keys to Watch for the Dodgers in This NLDS Game
- Glasnow's command early: Glasnow can be dominant when he's ahead in counts, but if he falls behind hitters and starts issuing free passes, Atlanta's lineup has the firepower to make him pay. His first-inning efficiency will set the tone.
- Dodgers' plate discipline against Mahle: Los Angeles needs to work counts and make Mahle labor. The longer the Dodgers can keep Mahle's pitch count elevated, the sooner they can get into an Atlanta bullpen that will be under postseason pressure.
- Road environment at Truist Park: The Dodgers are operating without a home crowd behind them. Atlanta's fans are loud and engaged in October. The Dodgers will need to weather early crowd energy — particularly if the Braves strike first.
- Bullpen management: In a Division Series, every out matters. How each manager deploys his relievers — and when he pulls his starter — could be the decisive chess match of the evening.
Broadcast Information
Wednesday's NLDS game at Truist Park can be seen on FS1 and Fox Deportes, with English radio coverage available on Dodgers Radio AM570 and ESPN Radio. Spanish-language listeners can tune in on La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM or KTNQ 1020.
Prediction: Dodgers NLDS Game at Atlanta
Glasnow versus Mahle is a genuine pitcher's duel on paper, and these games in the Division Series tend to be decided by margins — a two-out hit here, a bullpen arm there. The Dodgers have the offensive depth to manufacture runs even against a quality starter, and if Glasnow is operating at his ceiling, Atlanta's lineup faces a steep climb. Expect a tight, low-scoring game. Give the edge to Los Angeles, 4–2, with Glasnow delivering six strong innings and the Dodgers' lineup doing just enough damage against the Atlanta bullpen late.
