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Comparing Atlanta Braves and LA Dodgers before trade deadline

By Jake Mastroianni

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after sliding safely into third base during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after sliding safely into third base during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: Austin  Barnes #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to a two run homerun from Ronald  Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: Austin  Barnes #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to a two run homerun from Ronald  Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Here we will compare the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers before the MLB trade deadline to see how the two NL contenders match up.

At this point in the season, there isn’t much question as to who is the best team in the National League. If the Atlanta Braves are going to reach the World Seris in 2019 they’ll have to go through the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Round one between these two teams did not go well for the Atlanta Braves as they were swept out in LA.

But that’s not a fair comparison as the Braves are almost a completely different team at this point. Two of the Braves starters in that series, Kevin Gausman and Mike Foltynewicz, aren’t even part of the starting rotation anymore.

And that Braves lineup still had Ozzie Albies and Josh Donaldson hitting 1-2 instead of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Dansby Swanson. That lineup also did not include Austin Riley.

The Dodgers also ran out their three best pitchers in that series in Walker Buehler, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Clayton Kershaw.

Now, that’s exactly who the Braves would face if these two teams meet in the playoffs again so it was a good test. But the lineup then and now is completely different for the Braves.

And even that Braves lineup put up a good fight against Buehler and Kershaw scoring 7 runs off them in 13.2 innings combined. Ryu has been on another level this year and dominated the Braves in a complete game shutout.

Comparing team stats on the season, these two teams are 3 and 4 in the NL in average, 2 and 3 in home runs, 2 and 3 in runs scored, 1 and 2 in OBP, 1 and 2 in SLG, and 1 and 2 in OPS.

Essentially, these are the two best offenses in the National League with the Dodgers holding a slight edge on the season.

Pitching is where you’ll see the difference as the Dodgers rank 1st in the NL and the Atlanta Braves are fifth. But it’s even more dramatic when you compare the starters where LA still ranks first but the Braves are 11th.

On the flip side, the Atlanta Braves are first in the NL in bullpen ERA while the Dodgers are fifth.

Let’s take a deeper look at the two teams and compare lineup, bench, starters, and bullpen to see just how close the Braves are and what changes they need to make before the trade deadline in order to compete with the Dodgers this year.

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