Dodgers vs. Braves prediction and odds for Tuesday, May 23 (Trust LA as big underdogs)

In a battle of the two best teams in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers drew first blood against the Atlanta Braves, winning 8-6 on the road Monday night.

However, the Dodgers face a stiff test in Spencer Strider, a NL Cy Young contender on Tuesday night. The team will counter with Bobby Miller, who will make his MLB debut in this one against one of the best offenses in baseball. How will that work out?

Let's waste no time and get to the odds and our best bet for this potential NLCS preview.

Dodgers vs. Braves odds, run line and total

Dodgers vs. Braves prediction and pick

This appears to be a pitching mismatch, and it very well can be, but the truth is we don't know and baseball has a ton of variance involved. Miller has pitched to a 3.79 ERA in three minor league seasons across 45 starts.

Strider, meanwhile, is one of the next great pitchers, striking out 86 batters in 51.2 innings of work this season. He has a 2.96 ERA in nine starts, but has struggled to go deep into games due to some control issues (walking three batters per nine innings). Strider has averaged less than six innings of work this season despite glowing metrics and that can open the Braves up to being attacked late in games.

Despite being lights out this season, the Dodgers have the perfect antidote to Strider's excellence with the team's ability to stay disciplined at the plate, leading the big leagues in walk rate. If the team can get on-base via walks, LA can be live to plate runs and tag Strider early and often. The Braves pitcher has allowed four earned runs in five innings twice in his past four starts.

Miller is a wild card as the starter for the Dodgers, but LA is always an intriguing bet in the rare case that the club is an underdog (sixth time all season). I'll buy the best team in the NL to put pressure on Strider and make it two straight moneyline upsets.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.