Los Angeles Dodgers vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Prediction for Tuesday October 6 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, for Game 3 of the National League Division Series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET with coverage on FS1. Los Angeles finished the regular season 100-62 overall and 49-32 on the road, while Atlanta went 94-68 overall and 52-29 at home. The series is tied 1-1 after the Dodgers won Game 1 by a 5-3 score before Atlanta answered with a 3-2 victory Sunday night. DraftKings lists Los Angeles at -110 on the moneyline, with Atlanta at -109, while the Dodgers are +160 at -1.5 runs and the Braves are -195 at +1.5. The total is 6 runs, with the Over at -116 and Under at -104. Be sure to check out our free MLB picks for more MLB predictions throughout the postseason.
Starting Pitchers
Los Angeles is scheduled to start Yoshinobu Yamamoto, although no individual postseason statistics were listed in the information available for this matchup. The right-hander takes the ball in a pivotal Game 3 with the series shifting to Atlanta and the Dodgers looking to regain the advantage after dropping Sunday's one-run decision. Los Angeles enters with excellent full-season pitching numbers, which should take some pressure off the starter if the game remains tight into the middle innings.
Atlanta counters with Chris Sale, who enters at 0-0 with a 3.52 ERA and excellent 0.78 WHIP through 7.2 postseason innings. The left-hander has allowed five hits and one walk while striking out 12 without surrendering a home run. Those numbers make Sale a major factor in a game carrying a total of only six runs, particularly with Atlanta now getting the benefit of playing at Truist Park.
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Dodgers Bring the Better Overall Statistical Profile
Los Angeles enters Game 3 after having its four-game winning streak snapped in Sunday's 3-2 loss. Before that defeat, the Dodgers had beaten Atlanta 5-3 in Game 1 and closed the regular season with consecutive victories over San Francisco by scores of 2-0, 4-3 and 5-1. Even after Sunday's loss, Los Angeles has still won four of its last five games.
The Dodgers finished the season batting .257 with 801 runs, 1,399 hits and 204 home runs. They posted a .338 on-base percentage and .424 slugging percentage. Compared with Atlanta, Los Angeles finished with the same number of home runs but held clear advantages in batting average, runs scored, hits, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Pitching was another strength. Los Angeles posted a 3.55 team ERA and 1.14 WHIP while holding opponents to a .218 batting average. The staff recorded 1,521 strikeouts against 480 walks. Those numbers give the Dodgers advantages over Atlanta in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts and opponent batting average, making Los Angeles the slightly more complete team on paper entering Game 3.
Atlanta Returns Home With Momentum
Atlanta did exactly what it needed to do in Los Angeles by earning a split. After losing Game 1 by two runs, the Braves responded with a 3-2 victory Sunday and now get to play the next two games at Truist Park, where they went an excellent 52-29 during the regular season.
The Braves hit .246 with 742 runs, 1,348 hits and 204 home runs while producing a .309 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage. Atlanta matched Los Angeles in home runs but trailed the Dodgers in nearly every other major offensive category. That makes efficiency especially important in a matchup where scoring opportunities may be limited.
Atlanta finished with a 3.63 team ERA and 1.24 WHIP while allowing opponents to bat .234. The staff recorded 1,350 strikeouts against 529 walks. Those numbers are solid, even if Los Angeles owns the statistical edge, and the Braves now have the combination of home-field advantage and a strong starting pitching matchup working in their favor.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Prediction
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers Moneyline (-110)
Los Angeles -110 is the side pick. Atlanta's 52-29 home record and Game 2 victory deserve respect, but the Dodgers hold the stronger overall statistical profile on both sides of the ball. Los Angeles scored 59 more runs during the regular season while also posting the better batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Dodgers also finished with a lower ERA, better WHIP and much lower opponent batting average. In what is essentially a pick'em game, I'll take the more complete team to bounce back and regain control of the series.
Pick: Under 6 (-104)
The Under 6 is the total pick. The number is extremely low, but Game 2 produced only five runs and Atlanta's Game 3 starter enters with a 0.78 WHIP and 12 strikeouts through 7.2 postseason innings. Los Angeles also finished the regular season with a 3.55 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and .218 opponent batting average. With both teams capable of limiting baserunners and the stakes rising in a tied series, another tight game makes sense. A 3-2 final would cash the Under, while a 4-2 or 3-3 score would at least produce a push.
Final Picks: Los Angeles Dodgers Moneyline (-110) and Under 6 (-104)
This preview was completed on October 5, 2026. Starting pitchers, betting lines and other game information are subject to change before the game begins.
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