One number shows why Braves faltered against Dodgers in NLDS

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

One number shows why Braves faltered against Dodgers in NLDS

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Oct 7, 2026 10:35 PM ET

On their way to a third consecutive National League Championship Series appearance, the Los Angeles Dodgers controlled the Atlanta Braves at the most critical times.

With runners in scoring position during the four-game series, per OptaSTATS, Atlanta went just 1-for-23, equating to a .043 batting average.

That lack of production resulted in the second-lowest batting average with RISP in a postseason series in Major League Baseball history (minimum 20 at-bats with RISP), behind only the Dodgers when they were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series, going 0-for-22 with RISP.

Atlanta batters didn't fare much better overall, hitting just .145 against the Dodgers and averaging just two runs per game.

The Braves went 1-for-23 (.043) with runners in scoring position in the series against the Dodgers.

That's the second-lowest batting average with RISP in a postseason series in MLB history (min. 20 AB with RISP), behind only the Dodgers in the 1966 World Series (0-for-22).
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 8, 2026

Dodgers pitching shuts down Braves, flexes muscles

Los Angeles made its intentions on the mound clear from the opening game with Tarik Skubal striking out seven over 6.0 innings in a Game 1 Dodger win. Los Angeles pitchers would strike out 39 Braves in 36.0 innings during the series, showing just how overpowering they were against Atlanta's suddenly tepid bats.

Atlanta's offensive sputtering in the NLDS is an example of just how Dodgers pitchers can lock down opponents. It's also proof that there is a wide chasm between the regular season and the postseason.

During the regular season, the Braves won five of six games against the Dodgers, outscoring them 26-15. Atlanta slashed .278/.330/.395 in their six regular-season games against Los Angeles, a far better success rate than what happened in the postseason.

The postseason, however, is always a different beast as teams will likely face the best pitching the other team has to offer as rotations and bullpens get shortened.

During the regular season, MLB teams are rewarded for consistency over the 162-game schedule. October, however, rewards the team that can produce in a much smaller sample size.

The Braves couldn't do that against the Dodgers, sending them into an offseason where they will ponder what happened to an offense that simply dried up against Los Angeles when it mattered most.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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