In Los Angeles The Los Angeles Dodgers made an effort to minimize the importance of this weekend’s big game against the Atlanta Braves. They avoided answering questions about whether the matchup between the top two National League teams could serve as a preview of the postseason. These four contests, though, may not be the teams’ final meeting this season if Thursday night provided any indication.

If there was any lingering doubt that they would collide in October already, Thursday night’s thrilling 8-7 Braves victory at Chavez Ravine only served to strengthen that notion. Early on, it looked like it would be a blowout, but it ended up being a star-studded, back-and-forth, crowd-pleasing thrill ride, complete with dueling blows from MVP front-runners Mookie Betts and Ronald Acua Jr., a late Dodgers comeback attempt that came up just short, and plenty of examples of why these two teams have distinguished themselves from the rest of the league. Acua had a crucial role in the Braves’ historically significant early lead. The star outfielder broke a 1-1 deadlock in the top of the second with a grand slam off Dodgers starter Lance Lynn with the bases loaded.

Acua became the first player in MLB history to have 30 home runs and 60 steals in the same season when he hit his 30th home run of the year. And, after Betts and he were neck-and-neck for MVP going into the night, it gave him the early advantage in their competition. After three innings, Betts would respond. The Dodgers put two runners on base when Betts got to the plate in the fifth inning, after being shut out by Braves ace Spencer Strider through the opening four frames. With two strikes, Betts worked a full count while laying off a high fastball and low slider.The 250th home run of Betts’ career came when he got the barrel to an outside 99 mph heater on the payoff pitch. It was a three-run bomb to right that evaded Acua’s leaping effort at the warning track. The Dodgers continued to make small gains despite having their deficit abruptly reduced by half, from 7-1 to 7-4. In the top of the sixth, Max Muncy had a throwing error with two outs that cost him one run. But in the seventh, the Dodgers struck back once more. Michael Busch, a rookie designated hitter, smashed a solo home run down the right field line over the short wall.

To make it 8-6, Betts then hit a second long homer, this time turning on a first-pitch fastball from Joe Jiménez of the Braves. Betts concluded the night with a.317 batting average and a 1.033 on-base-plus-slugging percentage thanks to his two home runs (plus a walk in the first inning). Acua increased his batting average to.337 and OPS to.993 after going three for four with a walk and a steal (his 62nd of the year). The Dodgers were able to go within one run of the Braves going into the ninth inning thanks to Muncy’s solo home run the inning before, but they were unable to make a full recovery.