3 Bold Predictions for Dodgers vs. Braves NLCS Game 1

The Los Angeles Dodgers won 106 games in the regular season, kicked out the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Wild Card game, then dumped the 107-game winning NL West rival San Francisco Giants in the NLDS. Despite being the favorite to repeat as World Series Champions, they have fought pretty hard to get where they are now.

The Atlanta Braves won 88 games in the regular season, and dodged that Wild Card game bullet by winning the less-than-impressive NL East crown. The Braves would defeat the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, catching the slumping Brewers at the right time.

Here are three bold predictions for NLCS Game 1, odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Bold Predictions for Dodgers vs. Braves - NLCS Game 1

Max Fried Will Throw Six Scoreless Innings

Atlanta is at home at Truist Park, and they’re sending Fried to the hill in Game 1. Fried made one outing against Milwaukee in the NLDS and threw six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, and will have a similar performance against Los Angeles in Game 1.

Fried threw six innings and allowed just one run against the Dodgers on June 6th, picking up four strikeouts and a win. On Sept. 1st, Fried would make his second appearance against Los Angeles and record six innings and allow two runs on three hits while striking out nine in a no-decision.

Fried will not be intimidated by the Dodgers lineup, even in such a high-pressure situation like the NLCS.

Tony Gonsolin Will Throw Four Scoreless Innings in Relief

Gonsolin got shelled in the 2020 NLCS and World Series, recording an 0-2 record and an 8.68 ERA in 9 ⅓ innings. Gonsolin will exercise those demons in 2021.

Put into a swingman role in the pitching staff, Gonsolin has been a useful piece for manager Dave Roberts to utilize him whenever he sees fit.

Gonsolin posted a 3.23 ERA in 55 ⅔ innings pitched this season, but has yet to make an appearance this postseason. After allowing 34 walks in the regular season in limited innings, it makes sense to hold the pitcher back and look for other options, but Gonsolin has the ability to dominate a lineup; he has a career .192 opponent batting average.

He just has to limit the free passes.

With Fried on the mound for Atlanta and Gonsolin taking the bulk of the innings, the under should be a solid play on WynnBET Sportsbook.

Joc Pederson Will Hit Another Home Run

Pederson has just three hits in seven at-bats this postseason, and two of those hits are pinch-hit home runs in NLDS Game 1 and Game 3.

Pederson was a decent hitter in the postseason in his time with the Dodgers, hitting three home runs in the 2017 World Series alone.

The Braves have many great hitters; Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Adam Duvall, etc., but sometimes it’s the guy that’s flying under the radar and looking to hurt the team that traded him.