Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction – 4/2/2025

Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview

As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves prepare for their matchup on April 2, 2025, both teams are looking to establish momentum in their series. The Dodgers are off to a fantastic start this season, boasting an undefeated 7-0 record, while the Braves are struggling with a disappointing 0-6 mark. This matchup is critical for both teams, especially considering the Dodgers' strong start and the Braves' need to turn their season around.

In their last game, the Dodgers showcased their dominance, continuing to capitalize on their offensive power, ranking 3rd in MLB in home runs. However, they are languishing at 27th in batting average, suggesting their reliance on power could be a double-edged sword against solid pitching. The Braves, on the other hand, are ranked 57th in offensive metrics, which underscores their ongoing struggles at the plate.

Blake Snell is projected to take the mound for the Dodgers. Despite being the 34th ranked starting pitcher in MLB, Snell has a solid 1-0 record and a decent 3.60 ERA this year. However, his 6.28 xFIP indicates he's been a bit fortunate and might regress as the season progresses. He faces a Braves lineup that has the 4th most strikeouts in MLB, potentially playing to his advantage. Yet, with Snell's high walk rate of 16.7%, he must find a way to control the Braves' patient hitters.

Bryce Elder is set to start for Atlanta, but his projection suggests a tough outing, with an average of 5.0 innings pitched and 3.0 earned runs allowed. Given the Dodgers rank as the 2nd best bullpen in MLB, the Braves will need to significantly improve their offensive output to have a chance.

The current odds favor the Dodgers significantly with a moneyline of -230, reflecting their strong start and the perceived mismatch on the mound. As the game total sits at an average 8.0 runs, expect the Dodgers to capitalize on their power against a struggling Braves pitching staff.

Quick Takes Atlanta Braves:

Out of every team today, the 2nd-weakest infield defense is that of the the Atlanta Braves.

• Defense is an integral part of preventing (or, in this case, allowing) hits and runs.

Bryan De La Cruz is projected to bat 5th on the lineup card in this matchup, which would be an upgrade from his 100% rate of hitting in the bottom-half of the lineup this season.

• The higher in the order a player bats, the more plate appearances he will get and the more opportunities he will get to hit the Over for every market. A player who hits higher in the order than he normally does may provide extra value opportunity since the market may be based on him hitting lower.

Today’s version of the Braves projected lineup is a bit watered down, as their .325 the leading projection system (THE BAT X) wOBA is considerably below their .338 overall projected rate.

• Betting lines are often based on seasonal team quality. If today's lineup is watered down, however, there may be value if markets aren't accounting for the lower quality of this offense.

Quick Takes Los Angeles Dodgers:

Blake Snell is an extreme flyball pitcher (35.3% FB% via the leading projection system, THE BAT) and has the misfortune of pitching in the #2 HR venue in MLB in this matchup.

• This pitcher's skill set does not match up particularly well with the park he's in today, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.

Teoscar Hernandez's footspeed has fallen off this year. His 28.58 ft/sec Statcast Sprint Speed last year sits at 27.88 ft/sec now.

• Slow players tend to get fewer hits because they can't beat out groundballs, fewer extra base hits, and fewer stolen bases.

According to the leading projection system (THE BAT), the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen profiles as the 2nd-best among all MLB teams.

• Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a strong bullpen sneakily creates a tougher matchup for the opposing offense and suppresses a game's runs.

Game Trends

• The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit the Game Total Over in 69 of their last 114 games (+25.95 Units / 21% ROI)
• The Atlanta Braves have hit the Game Total Under in 96 of their last 156 games (+35.60 Units / 21% ROI)
• Blake Snell has hit the Walks Allowed Under in 5 of his last 6 games (+3.40 Units / 38% ROI)

• Date: April 2, 2025
• Venue: Dodger Stadium
• Starting Pitchers:
  • Bryce Elder - Braves
  • Blake Snell - Dodgers

For more on today's game check out the comprehensive statistics, betting odds, and trends below. Be sure to check out all our free MLB picks here.