Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction, Odds and Picks for Friday, 05/08/26

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been struggling of late, but the assumption is that once we get to the end of the season, they’ll be right back in the race. Call it fatigue from 2 straight World Series runs, but if the Dodgers can tread water and stay at the top of the National League West while not playing their best baseball, it could be bad news for the rest of the National League. The Dodgers will be tested in this weekend’s series when the Atlanta Braves visit southern California for a potential NLCS preview.

The Braves will send Chris Sale to the mound on Friday evening, hoping to cool down a Dodgers offense that found its legs against the Houston Astros — scoring 21 runs in 3 games. Sale has been dominant again for the Braves this season, owning a 6-1 record with a 2.14 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP, including an impressive 3-hit, 1-earned-run performance at Coors Field in his most recent start.

The Dodgers will counter with Emmet Sheehan, who is currently in the middle of an inconsistent season in which he has surrendered 4 runs in 3 different starts, to go along with 3 quality outings of 3 runs or less. Sheehan had a great regular season in 2025, but some postseason struggles have bled over into 2026.

The market is still favoring the Dodgers here despite Sale taking the mound against an inconsistent Sheehan, and the Braves playing better baseball over the last couple of weeks. It isn’t easy to bet against the Dodgers, especially after they scored 21 runs over the past 3 games, but the Braves at plus-money is too good of an opportunity to ignore.

Braves vs Dodgers prediction: Atlanta Braves ML (+100) available at time of publishing. Playable to that number. 

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