MLB Postseason Betting Preview: League Division Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves National League Pennant Odds: +350

Los Angeles Dodgers National League Pennant Odds: +175

The story of the Atlanta Braves' season was the Baby Braves. Due to service time requirements, we had to wait a bit to see Ronald Acuna, but we got to see Ozzie Albies right away. Add in the veteran presence of bats such as Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis, and you have a scary lineup that no one wants to face in the postseason.

Atlanta ranks ninth in baseball with a 0.73 nERD (which represents expected run differential) and eighth in BaseRuns (Fangraphs' expected team run total) at 100. Their pitching staff ranks 19th with a 4.20 SIERA, while they as a team hit to a 97 wRC+ on the year (15th among all teams).

Due to injuries and a potential hangover after last year's loss in the Fall Classic, the Los Angeles Dodgers started slow to begin the year, but they heated up as the temperature got warmer, eventually winning the National League West after a tiebreaker against the Colorado Rockies earlier this week.

The Los Angeles Dodgers rank second in the MLB with a 1.67 nERD and second in BaseRuns at 192. The Dodgers boast the best pitching staff in the National League, boasting a 3.47 SIERA, as well as the best wRC+ in baseball (111) thanks to the league's best walk-to-strikeout ratio.

The Braves are the better story, but ultimately it's clear who the better team is. Led by Manny Machado, the Dodgers are the best club in the National League and have the best odds (-200) to advance from their division series, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Braves are the largest series underdogs (+170), so if you're less risk averse their return could be worth the gamble. The numbers just aren't in their favor, though.

Recommended Bet: Los Angeles -200 for the series.