Danielle: A 4-2 win in the Little League Classic, the bats are waking up, and now the best team in baseball rolls into Truist Park. This is going to be a heavyweight fight.
Eric: The Dodgers are coming to Atlanta. And we've got the full preview right now on Beatline.
Danielle: Welcome back to the Beatline podcast network. I'm Danielle, joined as always by the great Eric. And we are fresh off a series win in Milwaukee. But now, the real test begins.
Eric: That's right. The Braves took two of three from the Brewers, but they're about to face a Dodgers team that's just been rolling all season. And we're going to break it all down.
Danielle: Today we're looking at the pitching matchups, the key hitters, the bullpen concerns, and of course, our bold predictions. Stick with us because this one's going to be good.
Danielle: Alright, Eric. Let's start with the big picture. The Braves are 76-55, first place in the NL East. The Dodgers come to town, and they've been the class of the National League all year. What's the vibe in the clubhouse after that Milwaukee series?
Eric: I think there's a lot of confidence. Winning that series, especially with the pitching performance we saw, it sets up this Dodgers series perfectly. You want to measure yourself against the best, and the Dodgers are the best right now.
Danielle: And we've been talking about the rotation all week. Let's get into the probables for this one. Who do we see on the mound for Atlanta in Game 1?
Eric: Well, we don't have official announcements yet, but the way the rotation lines up, you'd have to think Chris Sale gets the ball for the opener. He's been the ace all year, and coming off that tough loss in Milwaukee where he got outdueled, he's going to want to bounce back.
Danielle: And that was a tough one. We talked about that on the show—Misiorowski outdueled him. But Sale still had a quality start. What's the key for him against this Dodgers lineup?
Eric: It's all about the fastball location. The Dodgers are one of the best teams in baseball at laying off pitches out of the zone. Sale's got to be precise, work the corners, and use that slider to keep them off balance. If he does that, he can go deep into the game.
Danielle: And on the other side, the Dodgers' probable? We're expecting a big name there too.
Eric: Could be Tyler Glasnow or maybe even Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Either way, it's a tough matchup. But the Braves have seen these guys before, and they've had some success.
Danielle: So a potential ace duel in Game 1. That's the kind of matchup that gets the blood pumping. Let's take a quick break, but when we come back, we're going to talk about the key hitters and that bullpen. You don't want to miss this.
Danielle: Alright, we're back. And Eric, let's talk about the bats. Michael Harris II hit that solo homer in the Little League Classic. That was a big moment. How important is it that he's heating up?
Eric: Huge. When Harris is hitting, this lineup is a different animal. He's got that speed and power combo that can change a game in one swing. And that homer was a bomb. He's seeing the ball well right now, and that's a great sign going into this series.
Danielle: And we also saw Mauricio Dubon with that RBI ground-rule double. He's been a spark plug all season. What kind of impact does he have against a team like the Dodgers?
Eric: Dubon is all about energy and putting the ball in play. He doesn't strike out much, he can steal a base, and he plays great defense. Against a pitching staff like the Dodgers, you need guys who can manufacture runs. Dubon is that guy.
Danielle: And of course, we've got to talk about the big boys. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley. We made some predictions about them earlier this week. Did they come through?
Eric: Well, Riley didn't homer in the series, and Acuña didn't steal two bases in a game, so I guess we were a little off. But they're both dangerous. Acuña has been on a tear, and Riley is always a threat to go deep. They're going to be the key to this series.
Danielle: And let's be real, the Dodgers have a lot of power too. But our bullpen has been a question mark all season. How do we feel about the bullpen going into this series?
Eric: It's a concern. We've seen some blown leads this year, and with injuries to guys like Joe Jimenez and Reynaldo Lopez, the late innings have been shaky. But Raisel Iglesias has been solid at the back end. The key is getting the ball to him with a lead.
Danielle: And we've got some other guys who can step up. Dylan Lee, Brent Suter, those guys have been doing a good job. But the Dodgers' lineup is relentless. They don't give you any easy outs.
Eric: Exactly. That's why the starters need to go deep. Sale, Mahle, whoever pitches, they need to give us six or seven innings. Otherwise, we're asking a lot of that bullpen.
Danielle: And we can't forget about the injuries. We've got a bunch of guys on the IL. Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, those are big losses. But the guys who are here, they're stepping up. Tyler Mahle pitched five strong innings in that last game. That was huge.
Eric: Absolutely. Mahle has been a revelation since coming back. He's given the rotation some stability. And with guys like Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes also in the mix, we've got options.
Danielle: Alright, so we've got the pitching and the hitting. But what's going to be the difference-maker in this series? Let's get into the keys to the series, right after this.
Danielle: Okay, Eric. We've talked about the matchups, the hitters, the bullpen. Now let's get down to it. What are the keys to this series for the Braves?
Eric: First and foremost, we've got to get production from the top of the lineup. Acuña and Riley need to set the tone. If they're getting on base, the middle of the order can drive them in. That's how we beat the Brewers.
Danielle: And what about the defense? We've made some great plays lately. Does that need to continue?
Eric: Defense is huge, especially against a team like the Dodgers that puts the ball in play and runs the bases well. We need to make the routine plays, and maybe a spectacular one or two. That can be the difference in a tight game.
Danielle: And we've talked about the bullpen. If we can get a lead after six innings, do you feel confident in Iglesias closing it out?
Eric: I do. Raisel has been dominant. He's got that wipeout slider, and he's been consistent all year. The problem is getting to him. That's the key.
Danielle: Alright, time for our bold predictions. I'm going to go first. I say Ronald Acuña Jr. steals two bases and scores the winning run in the series opener. I've been saying that all week, and I'm sticking with it.
Eric: I like it. I'll go with this: Chris Sale goes seven innings, strikes out eight, and gets the win. He's due for a bounce-back, and I think he'll be fired up against the Dodgers.
Danielle: Ooh, I like that. And what about a homer? I'm going to say Austin Riley takes one deep in Game 2. He's been quiet, but he's due.
Eric: That's bold. I'll counter with Matt Olson having a three-hit night in Game 3. He's been consistent, and he's due for a big game.
Danielle: Love it. So we've got our predictions. Now, let's wrap this up. If the Braves can win this series, it sends a message to the entire league. Let's do this.
Danielle: That's our show, folks. The Dodgers are coming to town, and we're ready for a fight. Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast, and share it with your fellow Braves fans.
Eric: And remember, we're here every day with the best Braves coverage on the Beatline Podcast Network.
Danielle: Let's go Braves! Chop on!