Braves vs – The Braves return to Truist Park for a win-or-go-home Game 4, looking to extend their NLDS against the Dodgers.
For the second time in less than a week. the Braves will take the field in front of their home fans for a win-or-go-home ballgame. But unlike the winner-take-all match against the Phillies last week. Wednesday night’s contest at Truist Park is strictly about survival. The Braves enter Game 4 trailing in the National League Division Series. needing a win to force a return trip to Los Angeles for a decisive fifth game.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on FS1 and FOX One. The stakes are clear: the Dodgers are one win away from punching their ticket to a third straight NL Championship Series. while the Braves are searching for a way to break the alternating-win pattern established through the first three games.
“All these games have been close,” Braves outfielder Michael Harris II said. “So just trust our stuff, trust who’s on the mound and go out there and get some runs for Tyler Mahle, so we can have a chance to go back to L.A.”
Mahle, acquired at the trade deadline, will be on the mound for Atlanta. Despite a 5.13 ERA through 18 starts with the Giants. he reinvented his game in Atlanta by shifting away from his cutter in favor of his splitter. The results were immediate. including a 1.28 ERA in his first eight starts for the club and a dominant postseason debut where he held the Phillies to one run over seven innings. He’ll face Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who brings an 11.92 K/9 rate—fourth among MLB starters—into the matchup. Though limited to 13 regular-season starts by a back injury, Glasnow finished the season with back-to-back quality starts and double-digit strikeouts.
Managerial decisions for Game 4 reflect the physical toll of the postseason. Despite lingering soreness in his right knee, Ronald Acuña Jr. is set to start in right field. a move that allows the Braves to slot Sean Murphy at catcher and Drake Baldwin at designated hitter. Ha-Seong Kim, who has managed only one hit in 30 at-bats since September 12, will move to the bench. In a tactical shift. Michael Harris II—who has been the team’s most potent threat with a .375 average and three extra-base hits—will lead off.
On the other side. the Dodgers are reverting to a more conventional lineup after adjusting specifically for Chris Sale in the previous game. Shohei Ohtani remains lower in the order than usual as he continues to work through his plate struggles. Both teams are navigating significant health concerns: for Atlanta. Bryce Elder and Martín Pérez remain sidelined. while the Dodgers are managing injuries for Ohtani. Freddie Freeman. and Miguel Rojas. the latter of whom is out of the lineup with lower back pain. Will Klein continues to recover from right elbow discomfort and remains a secondary depth option.
Bullpen availability will be a critical factor. The Braves have their full relief corps ready. including Didier Fuentes. though his heavy 47-pitch workload on Sunday may limit his availability for multiple innings. They will lean on Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias to anchor late-game efforts. The Dodgers. meanwhile. benefit from a fresh bullpen after Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s seven-inning performance in Game 3 allowed them to preserve their top leverage arms. Tanner Scott and Edwin Díaz.
As the series hangs in the balance, both clubs are seeing a divide in production. While Tucker. Freeman. and Betts have provided consistent offense for the Dodgers. players like Smith and Pages only recorded their first postseason hits in Game 3. For the Braves. the weight of the moment rests on finding offense from those who have yet to find their rhythm. as Baldwin. Acuña. and Olson all remain below their potential heading into the most critical game of their season.
Braves Dodgers NLDS MLB Game 4 Tyler Mahle Tyler Glasnow Postseason