The Los Angeles Dodgers can force a winner-take-all Game 7 when they take on the Atlanta Braves in a must-win Game 6 of the 2021 NLCS on Saturday at Truist Park in Atlanta. The Dodgers fought off elimination on Thursday with an 11-2 victory in Game 5 in Los Angeles. Down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, the Dodgers still need two more wins to advance to the franchise's fourth World Series in five years and face the American League champion Houston Astros. Los Angeles will start Walker Buehler on short rest after Max Scherzer was scratched from his start (arm fatigue). Ian Anderson (0-0, 6.00 ERA) will start for Atlanta.
Los Angeles is the -145 favorite (risk $145 to win $100) in the latest Dodgers vs. Braves odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while Atlanta is a +143 underdog. The over-under for total runs scored is eight. First pitch is at 8:08 p.m. ET. Before making any Dodgers vs. Braves picks, check out the latest 2021 MLB playoff predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, enters the third week of the 2021 MLB playoffs with a 207-176 record on top-rated MLB money-line picks, returning well over $600. Anyone following it has seen some huge returns.
Now, the model has dialed in on Dodgers vs. Braves and just revealed its coveted predictions and best bets. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's MLB picks. Here are several MLB odds and betting trends for Braves vs. Dodgers:
- Dodgers vs. Braves money line: Los Angeles -145, Atlanta +135
- Dodgers vs. Braves run line: Los Angeles -1.5 (+115)
- Dodgers vs. Braves over-under: 8 runs
- LA: Chris Taylor is tied for the MLB lead with 12 RBI in the playoffs.
- ATL: Eddie Rosario is hitting .471 and slugging .735 with an OPS of 1.249 in the postseason.
Why you should back the Dodgers
Los Angeles has had postseason success against Anderson. In three playoff starts against the Dodgers, Anderson has lasted a total of 10 innings and given up four earned runs. He has struck out nine while walking 10. By contrast, in three playoff starts against other teams, he has not given up a run in 16⅔ innings and has struck out 23 while walking just three.
Los Angeles has also been great in elimination games. With their win in Game 5, the Dodgers have won seven straight games when facing elimination dating to last season. That streak includes four straight wins over Atlanta, which held a 3-1 lead over Los Angeles in the 2020 NLCS before losing in seven games.
Why you should back the Braves
Rosario's bat has been on fire in the postseason. In nine playoff games, he is hitting .471 and slugging .735 with an OPS of 1.249. He has hit safely in all nine games. In the NLCS alone, Rosario is hitting .571 and slugging 1.000 with an OPS of 1.609.
In addition, Atlanta faces a pitching-depleted Los Angeles team that has been forced to switch to Plan B with Scherzer unable to start. Buehler will start on just three days' rest like he did in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Giants. In that game he gave up just one run but lasted just 4⅓ innings while pitching on short rest for the first time in his career. In Game 3 against the Braves on Tuesday, he allowed four runs (two earned) and threw 76 pitches in 3⅔ innings.
How to make Dodgers vs. Braves picks
SportsLine's model is projecting 8.2 combined runs, and it also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's NLCS Game 6 picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Game 6 of Dodgers vs. Braves in the NLCS 2021? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SpotsLine now to see which side to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.
