Atlanta gets another October night at Truist Park with no room for a soft landing. The Braves will host the Dodgers in National League Division Series Game 4 on Wednesday, needing a victory to keep their season alive and push the matchup back to Los Angeles for a decisive fifth game. Los Angeles, after splitting the first three games, can secure its third consecutive trip to the NL Championship Series with a road win.
Game 4 at a glance
- Matchup: Dodgers at Braves, NLDS Game 4
- When: Wednesday, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
- Where: Truist Park, Atlanta
- Television: FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One
- Series situation: Los Angeles leads the best-of-five series 2-1 and can clinch; Atlanta must win to force Game 5.
It will be the second home elimination game for Atlanta in less than a week, though the stakes are slightly different from the club’s winner-take-all Wild Card game against Philadelphia. This time, the Braves are not playing for an immediate series victory. They are playing to earn another flight west.
“Every game has been tight,” center fielder Michael Harris II said. “We have to believe in our club, believe in the guy pitching, score for Tyler Mahle and give ourselves an opportunity to get back to L.A.”
Mahle gets the ball as Braves try to extend the series
Atlanta will turn to right-hander Tyler Mahle, whose late-season work gave the club a steady hand after his Trade Deadline arrival. Mahle owned a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts with San Francisco before the Braves acquired him, then posted a 1.28 ERA across his first eight Atlanta starts. Even with a rough regular-season finale mixed in, he closed the schedule with a 1.99 ERA over his last nine starts.
His first postseason assignment was equally encouraging. Mahle held the Phillies to one run over seven innings in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series. His improvement in Atlanta has coincided with less reliance on his cutter and a greater commitment to his splitter.
The Dodgers counter with right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who was limited to 13 regular-season starts by a back injury. He entered the postseason after consecutive quality starts featuring double-digit strikeout totals. His 11.92 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fourth among qualified MLB starters with at least 70 innings.
Glasnow worked in a mixed starting-and-relief capacity during last year’s playoffs, making six appearances and three starts while recording a 1.69 ERA. The Dodgers won every postseason game in which he appeared, including Game 7 of the World Series. This October, Los Angeles expects to let him operate more like a conventional starter.
Atlanta’s lineup questions begin with Acuña’s knee
Ronald Acuña Jr. is still managing discomfort in his right knee and may again be limited to designated hitter duty. He was moved into the DH role about 90 minutes before Game 3 first pitch. Keeping Acuña out of the field affects the rest of Atlanta’s alignment: Sean Murphy cannot catch while Drake Baldwin serves as DH, and Mauricio Dubón may be needed in the outfield.
That could leave Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop despite his 1-for-30 stretch dating to Sept. 12. The expected Atlanta order has Baldwin behind the plate, Acuña at DH and Matt Olson at first, with Harris in center field and Dubón in left.
- Drake Baldwin, C
- Ronald Acuña Jr., DH
- Matt Olson, 1B
- Michael Harris II, CF
- Mauricio Dubón, LF
- Ozzie Albies, 2B
- Mike Yastrzemski, RF
- Austin Riley, 3B
- Ha-Seong Kim, SS
Atlanta needs more from several established bats. Baldwin is hitting .130 in the postseason, Acuña is at .143 and Olson at .174. Harris has been the club’s most productive October hitter, batting .375 with nine hits in 24 at-bats and three extra-base hits.
The Dodgers adjusted their lineup substantially against Chris Sale in Game 3, but they are expected to return to a more familiar setup against the right-handed Mahle. Mookie Betts is in line to lead off at shortstop, followed by Freddie Freeman. Shohei Ohtani, ordinarily a leadoff option against right-handers, could remain lower in the order as he continues to search for a more consistent offensive rhythm.
- Mookie Betts, SS
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Will Smith, C
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Teoscar Hernández, LF
- Andy Pages, CF
- Tommy Edman, 2B
Tucker has hit .333 through three games, Freeman .364 and Betts .300. Smith, batting .083, and Pages, at .182, each collected their first postseason hit in Game 3. Ohtani is hitting .200 and remains an important question in the Dodgers’ order.
Fresh bullpens, lingering injuries and a few October markers
The Braves should have their full relief group available. Didier Fuentes threw 47 pitches across 3 2/3 innings in Sunday’s Game 2, so the 21-year-old may not be positioned for extended work. But Atlanta can call on Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias in leverage spots.
Los Angeles received seven innings from Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 3, which allowed the club to use only Tanner Scott and Edwin Díaz from its top relief options. Both relievers, along with the other six Dodgers bullpen arms, are expected to be ready for a possible clincher.
- Braves right-hander Bryce Elder, recovering from right knee surgery, is unavailable for this series.
- Atlanta left-hander Martín Pérez remains out with lower-back discomfort. Both Elder and Pérez could be options if the Braves reach the NLCS.
- Ohtani is playing through right biceps and left knee issues, while Freeman is managing a right knee concern.
- Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas left Game 3 because of lower-back pain and is not expected to start Game 4.
- Will Klein has faced hitters while dealing with right elbow discomfort, but he has not appeared in a game since July 31 and is viewed as depth for Los Angeles.
Atlanta won five of six regular-season meetings with the Dodgers, but Los Angeles arrives with its own road-game momentum, having won four straight postseason contests away from home dating to Game 2 of the 2025 World Series.
For Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a Game 4 victory would also carry a place in managerial history. He is tied with Tony La Russa at 71 postseason wins, second all-time among managers. One more would move Roberts into sole possession of second, although Joe Torre’s record of 84 remains well ahead.
