Dodgers vs Braves Preview: Can Dodgers Catch Brewers in NL Standings?
Updated August 26, 2026
Updated August 26, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves meet Wednesday night at Truist Park in a matchup between two National League division leaders. Los Angeles enters at 80-52 and Atlanta at 77-55, with the Braves holding a 1-0 series lead after Tuesday's 4-3 victory. Here, we break down the implications of this important matchup and look at the latest market pricing.
The Polymarket prediction market gives the Dodgers a slight edge entering Wednesday's game, with Los Angeles priced as a 56% favorite and Atlanta as a 44% underdog. That pricing reflects the expectation of another competitive matchup between these teams. Polymarket prices represent the market's implied probability based on trading activity, meaning the numbers can move as users react to starting-pitcher news, lineups, and other information.
For more insight on how to handle the market going into this contest, you can check out our Dodgers vs Braves prediction for tonight.
The Dodgers will be looking to avoid falling two games behind in Atlanta after the Braves won Tuesday's opener. Los Angeles had won six straight games before the 4-3 defeat, while Atlanta rallied late behind Ozzie Albies' eighth-inning RBI single and Raisel Iglesias' 28th save.
The Dodgers' offense still showed plenty of life in the opener, with Shohei Ohtani tripling in the ninth inning to put the tying run in scoring position. However, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts could not finish the comeback. A victory Wednesday would give Los Angeles a chance to split the first two games of the series and maintain its position near the top of the National League.
Wednesday's pitching matchup could create a very different game than the 4-3 game we saw on Tuesday. Sasaki enters with a 5-5 record, a 4.42 ERA and 114 strikeouts, while Smith-Shawver is listed at 0-0 with a 6.23 ERA and seven strikeouts.
Smith-Shawver is making only his second MLB start since returning from Tommy John surgery, and he struck out three over 4⅓ innings in his previous start. That makes workload and effectiveness a key question against a Dodgers lineup capable of producing runs throughout the order.
Truist Park also offers some reason to expect offense. The ballpark ranks among the more favorable MLB venues for run scoring, while its relatively shallow center-field dimensions can create additional opportunities for extra-base hits.
The Dodgers' bigger objective extends beyond Wednesday's game. Los Angeles is chasing Milwaukee for the National League's best record, making every game against quality competition increasingly important with the postseason approaching.
The Dodgers had been one game behind the Brewers for the NL's top seed entering this series, and Tuesday's loss did nothing to improve that position. Meanwhile, Milwaukee suffered a 3-2 extra-inning loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday, dropping the Brewers to a two-game losing streak.
That result gives Los Angeles an opportunity to make up ground if it can take advantage Wednesday. With two division leaders facing off and the top NL playoff positioning at stake, the Dodgers-Braves matchup carries significance well beyond that of a single regular-season game.
