Dodgers Game Today: Dodgers vs Braves Lineup, Odds, Prediction, Pick, Pitcher, TV for NLCS Game 5 Oct. 21

Thursday marks the start of Winning Time for the 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers — or, at least, it had better, if they want to continue working on the obnoxious group project this season has become.

Though it appeared on Opening Day they’d been sorted into the most helpful group possible, as the year’s drawn on, several of their most essential teammates have encountered one malady or another. Now, it’s just a question of whether those who remain even want to finish this Family Tree, or would instead rather grab a snack and go check out recess.

Justin Turner is now gone. Clayton Kershaw is not coming back. Julio Urías and Max Scherzer might not have the rubber arms they thought they did. There’s a distinct lack of tread on everyone’s tires — well, except Cody Bellinger.

Without so many essential players, the Dodgers now stare down the same 3-1 deficit they overcame last year to this very same Atlanta Braves team. This year, home field is a factor. This year, they’ve been relatively decimated. Will lightning strike twice? Does it even count as lightning striking if the choking team hails from Atlanta? It all begins tonight.

What Time is the Dodgers Game Today?

Dodgers-Braves begins again at 5:08 PST. Not as obnoxious as the 2 PM start, but still … come on.

What Channel is the Dodgers Game on Today?

This game will be on TBS yet again, if you’re not already sick of that broadcasting team. Hey, at least they appear to be rooting for us!

Dodgers vs Braves Odds Today

According to our friends at WynnBET, the sharps are still on the Dodgers, despite evidence on Wednesday night that they still hadn’t figured out what to do with momentum. On the moneyline, Los Angeles checks in at -160 favorites (bet $160 to win $100), while Atlanta sits at +125 (bet $100 to win $125).

On the run line, the Dodgers are +130 underdogs to cover a -1.5 spread and beat the Braves by two runs or more. The Braves are -165 to either win outright or lose by a single run. The over/under’s been set at 7.5, with the over checking in at -130 and the under at +104.

Dodgers Pitcher Today

Um … TBD? It’ll be a bullpen game for the Dodgers, much like what the Braves attempted in Game 4 (and succeeded with). Tony Gonsolin entered late in that one and did not succeed, so it’s anyone’s guess who will be the bulk guy in this one. David Price might’ve helped?

Atlanta has tabbed their ace, Max Fried, a Harvard-Westlake kid experiencing quite the homecoming right about now. Positive spin on it? If the Dodgers can get past this one, it only gets easier from here …

Yeah, pretty flimsy. You’re right.

Dodgers Starting Lineup

Check back in later to see how things get shuffled without Justin Turner. Does Gavin Lux head back to center? Really?

UPDATE: It’s real, and it’s spectacular. Belli to center, Lux to the vortex.

Dodgers vs Braves Prediction Today

It’s been a while since we’ve witnessed an offense as brazen as this 106-win team riding all the momentum of Cody Bellinger’s homer into a bullpen game from their opponent and falling that flat. What good is predicting a bounce back victory on Thursday predicated only on the city of Atlanta’s sports history?

7-3 Braves, and it brings on plenty of introspection, serving as more evidence that the NLDS should’ve been the NLCS.

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Dodgers vs Braves Live Stream

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