BRAVES VS. DODGERS

Season Series: Dodgers won

5-2.

BIG PICTURE: Braves: NL East champion Atlanta (90-72) was expected to improve this season, but was not projected to challenge for a postseason spot. Manager Brian Snitker, however, guided team to a huge jump from 72 wins in 2017, when Braves finished 25 games behind first-place Washington, and their first division title since

2013 . ... The “Baby Braves” grabbed most of the attention, with Ronald Acuna, 20, and Ozzie Albies, 21, making major contributions with their power and speed.

Dodgers: NL West champion Los Angeles (92-71) is looking to return to the World Series after losing Game 7 at home against Houston last year. Dodgers haven’t won it all since 1988 . ... Los Angeles will try to win a Division Series for third straight year. Dodgers swept Arizona in three games last season and edged Washington 3-2 in 2016.

WATCH FOR:

Short Order. Dansby Swanson’s status is uncertain due to soreness in his left hand. He partially tore a ligament on a swing during the final week of the regular season and left the game. Charlie Culberson, who hit .282 with eight homers in the second half, would be the replacement at shortstop. Kenley the Closer. Kenley Jansen allowed 13 homers this season, more than twice as many as his previous career high. Jansen had heart issues during the season and said he’s going to need surgery. But the Dodgers need him to be his old dominant self in the playoffs.

On The Bench. Snitker said he feels good about Lucas Duda’s availability to pinch-hit after Duda was limited late in the season by a sore back. Duda offers power from the left side. Super Max. Max Muncy got called up in mid-April, homered in his second game and has been the Dodgers’ big basher ever since. It’s quite a turnaround for a player who was released by Oakland and spent 2017 in the minors.