What significance does the Braves’ series win at Dodger Stadium hold for a potential October rematch?

As we enter September, the Atlanta Braves continue to inspire confidence in their abilities. Despite encountering challenging stretches and grappling with injuries to key players, their momentum remains unbroken. Although they closed their road trip with a 3-1 loss to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, the Braves return home with pride in their accomplishments over the past week and a half.

1. The Braves maintained a respectful demeanor toward the Dodgers throughout the series, refraining from providing any bulletin-board material for a hypothetical postseason clash. While they may have made a statement on the field, they chose not to boast about it. It’s worth noting that the beginning of September and October might not necessarily correlate, and thus, this series may not offer definitive insights into what lies ahead. Charlie Morton pointed out that the playoffs are a different beast, where hot teams often fare the best. Nevertheless, the Braves’ performance over the weekend was undeniably impressive. They faced a formidable Dodgers team that had dominated August and had not experienced consecutive losses since July. Despite this, the Braves claimed the first three games of the series, securing their first series win at Dodger Stadium since 2012 and their first four-game series victory at the venue since 2009. Moreover, they reached 90 victories faster than any team in the modern-era franchise history, dating back to 1900. While the true significance of this series may remain uncertain for October, it couldn’t have gone much better for Atlanta.
2. The Braves find themselves in a position where they have nothing left to prove. Manager Brian Snitker stated that his team believes they can compete with anyone in the league, a sentiment that has been consistently validated. Still, the success in this series and the entire road trip was undeniably encouraging. Facing a challenging stretch of games against San Francisco, Colorado, and Los Angeles, with no off days in between, the Braves emerged victorious in eight out of ten contests. Their only defeats came in the final games of those series, after they had already secured series wins.
3. Matt Olson’s home run in the dugout elicited a lighthearted response from Snitker, who jokingly anticipated another home run from him before the season’s end. Despite an 18-game and 81-appearance gap between Olson’s homer on August 13 and the one he hit on Sunday, it was no surprise to see him end his longest homer drought of the season. In the seventh inning, Olson smashed a two-out solo shot, narrowing Atlanta’s deficit to a single run. Unfortunately, the Braves couldn’t generate further offense against right-hander Bobby Miller and the subsequent relievers.
4. In the fifth inning, Charlie Morton conceded a run-scoring double and a run-scoring single before Snitker made the call to the bullpen. The relief pitchers performed admirably, but in the eighth inning, Ben Heller surrendered a run, extending the deficit to two runs. Snitker retains confidence in his starting pitchers, as they collectively limited one of the league’s top offenses to seven earned runs over 23 innings.
5. By winning three out of four games, the Braves have established a six-game lead over the Dodgers. This lead is significant because postseason home-field advantage is determined by regular-season records. While playing in front of a home crowd is preferred, Olson emphasized that the team can also thrive when facing an opposing crowd. The Braves appreciate the support of their fans at home but remain prepared to excel in any setting.