Braves advance to NLDS with Wild Card win; face defending champion Dodgers

The Atlanta Braves secured their place in the National League Division Series on Thursday night with a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of their Wild Card Series. The win completed a dominant performance by Atlanta, who advanced to the best-of-five Division Series beginning October 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champions. The Braves' bullpen and timely hitting proved decisive, with clutch home runs from Michael Harris II, Matt Olson, and Ozzie Albies helping them overcome a Phillies team that mounted a late-inning challenge in earlier games.

The 2026 MLB postseason now features eight teams competing across four Division Series matchups. In the National League, the San Diego Padres advanced to face the Milwaukee Brewers, who set a franchise record with 103 regular-season wins. The American League bracket consists of two division rivalries: the New York Yankees against the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Chicago White Sox against the Cleveland Guardians. The Dodgers, heavily favored at +210 odds to win the World Series, bring two consecutive titles and a balanced roster despite injury concerns to key players including pitcher Blake Snell and catcher Will Smith during the regular season.

The Braves present the most serious challenge to the Dodgers' quest for a third consecutive championship. Atlanta features a deep lineup anchored by Ronald Acuña Jr., Harris, Olson, and Albies, with starter Chris Sale identified as critical to their upset hopes. The Dodgers, however, maintain a 13-win advantage over the Braves according to playoff roster ratings, bolstered by Shohei Ohtani—limited to designated hitter duty in the postseason due to left knee soreness and right biceps inflammation—and recent acquisition Tarik Skubal. Los Angeles ranked best in the majors for runs allowed during the regular season, presenting a significant hurdle for Atlanta's offense.

The Division Series schedule runs through October 10, with the National League Championship Series beginning October 11 and the World Series scheduled to start October 23. The Brewers emerged as secondary favorites at +550 odds, followed by the Rays and Yankees at +800 each. All division series games will be broadcast on network television, with the AL matchups on TBS and NL contests split between Fox and FS1.