The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves on May 8, 2026. First pitch from UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on SportsNet LA.
The Dodgers are favored by -120 on the moneyline and priced at +210 to cover the run-line (+1.5). The Braves are +102 on the moneyline and -172 to cover -1.5 runs. The total is set at 8 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Braves vs Dodgers prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Braves vs Dodgers Prediction
- Braves vs Dodgers Pick: Braves ML (+102 | Play to -105)
My Braves vs Dodgers best bet is on Atlanta to win outright. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Braves vs Dodgers Odds
| Braves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +172 | 8 -104o / -118u | +102 |
| Dodgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -210 | 8 -104o / -118u | -120 |
- Braves vs Dodgers moneyline: Braves +102, Dodgers -120
- Braves vs Dodgers over/under: 8 (-104o /-118u)
- Braves vs Dodgers spread: Braves -1.5 (+172), Dodgers +1.5 (-210)
Braves vs Dodgers Probable Pitchers
| LHP Chris Sale (ATL) | Stat | RHP Emmet Sheehan (LAD) |
|---|---|---|
| 6-1 | W-L | 2-1 |
| 0.8 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.4 |
| 2.14 / 2.85 | ERA / xERA | 5.23 / 4.32 |
| 3.50 / 3.27 | FIP / xFIP | 4.30 / 3.11 |
| 22.6 | K-BB% | 20.5 |
| 46.5 | GB% | 41.9 |
| .223 | BABIP | .325 |
| 115 | Stuff+ | 93 |
| 107 | Location+ | 110 |
Braves vs Dodgers MLB Betting Preview
Atlanta Braves Betting Preview
The Braves manufactured just eight runs throughout their three-game series at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park versus an elite Mariners staff and lost their first series since April 5th in the process. Atlanta holds a record of 26-12 and an NL-leading +79 run differential, and this series is considered to be the most likely NLCS by oddsmakers currently.
Chris Sale has had a spectacular start to the season, having allowed more than one earned run in just one of his seven outings thus far. He holds an xERA of 2.85, has struck out 10.5 batters per nine, and generated a chase rate of 36.4%. He also holds a Pitching+ rating of 117, which is his best mark since the 2022 season.
Action PRO projects Sale for 6.8 strikeouts tonight.
The Braves offense ranks fourth in MLB with a wRC+ of 119 and holds the highest slugging rate in the league. They rank third in xwOBA and have struck out at the fourth-lowest rate while managing hard contact at the second-highest rate. They hold a wRC+ of 121 versus righties in particular and hold a hard-hit rate of 39.4%.
Atlanta's bullpen currently ranks fifth in xERA and fourth in xFIP. It also holds the second-highest strikeout-minus-walk rate in MLB.
Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview
Based on the vast majority of underlying indicators, Emmet Sheehan is likely to lower his ERA as this season wears on. He's pitched to an xFIP of 3.11 and suffered from a BABIP of .325, which, as you would expect, is by far the highest mark of his career.
He also holds a 20.7% home-run to fly-ball ratio, which is a key reason for his underwhelming ERA. He's also struck out 10.45 batters per nine and holds a Pitching+ rating of 105.
While Sheehan is a better starter than his current ERA suggests, he has still been hard-hit 40.7% of the time and allowed an xBA of .259. He's used his four-seamer 39.8% of the time, but it doesn't grade out well, and batters hold an xSLG of .733 against it.
The Dodgers' bullpen ranks one spot below Atlanta's with an xFIP of 3.79 and holds a strikeout-minus-walk rate of 17.5%. It currently ranks eighth in ERA, and as if the team needed it, the front office's efforts to shore up the bullpen, combined with greater health, should make the unit a force this season.
Los Angeles's high-powered lineup will provide a tough test for Sale, as it currently ranks second in wRC+ versus left-handed pitching. It ranks third in xwOBA and seventh in BB/K ratio.
Mookie Betts' absence from the lineup has not been overly notable, as Hyeseong Kim has hit .314 with an OPS of .801.
Braves vs Dodgers Pick, Betting Analysis
With respect to the fact that Sheehan will likely prove to be a much better starter than his current results suggest, Sale still appears to offer a fairly significant edge and is currently priced as the second favorite to win the NL Cy Young.
Atlanta has numerous batters outperforming expectations entering the season, and though the overall process has been excellent, common logic suggests the Dodgers' lineup will still outperform the Braves this season.
While the Dodgers lineup still grades out as the better unit, they are getting a lot of credit for being favored with Sheehan facing off against Sale in this matchup.
The Braves bullpen has been exceptional this season and ranks a hair above the Dodgers' unit in xFIP and strikeout minus walk rate.
At +102, there looks to be value backing the NL-leading Braves with their ace on the mound Friday.
Pick: Braves ML +102 (FanDuel | Play to -105)
