I've been saying all series the Dodgers are too good for things to keep happening for the Braves, but at this point it sure looks like the Dodgers are cooked. Absolutely everything except, really, one inning in Game 3 has gone the Braves way. As such, the Dodgers have seemed pretty lifeless these last two games aside from the huge rally. Now the Dodgers are sitting on a bullpen game while the Braves have Max Fried pitching on full rest. In his last 11 regular-season starts, Fried had a 1.46 ERA and the Braves won 10 of them. In two playoff starts, he has a 1.50 ERA and the Braves have won both.

I'm already on the Under 8 and while I realize that Braves +125 is the best value here (Atlanta isn't great value at -175 on the runline), the Dodgers have won six straight elimination games and I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt at home even against Atlanta ace Max Fried. Frankly, LA's lineup might be better off with Justin Turner out with the way he was hitting in these playoffs. Dave Roberts has 13 pitchers are on the NLCS roster and I'd guess 10 of those are available tonight. NL batting champion Trea Turner is WAY overdue for a big game (3-for-18, no RBIs in series), and I know Mike McClure likes him on DFS tonight.

This may drop to 7.5 soon as the Under is juiced a bit. The Dodgers will go with a bullpen day and I'd imagine that Dave Roberts uses pretty much every single pitcher other than Julio Urias (who started Game 4) and Tony Gonsolin (pitched past two games) to keep the season alive. It's ace lefty Max Fried for the Braves. He led MLB in ERA in the second half of the regular season and held the Dodgers to two runs over six in Game 1. Dating to the regular season, Fried hasn't allowed a run in his past three on the road. LA also will be without Justin Turner in the lineup. The winds are blowing out slightly but not enough to concern me here. Lance Barksdale is considered a moderate Under umpire.

Max Fried will be facing the Dodgers bullpen in a crucial Game 5 with the Braves up 3-1 in the NLCS for the second straight year. Last season, they blew the 3-1 lead and the Dodgers ended up winning the World Series, so you know that is on the Braves minds. Usually, teams are fine with a 3-2 lead going home but you know the Braves want to end it now. Max Muncy has been out and now Justin Turner will be out after pulling his hamstring last night. Trevor Bauer is still out. This high-powered Dodgers team is falling apart while the Braves just keep improving. Lefties have been the Dodgers kryptonite and Max Fried has been dealing lately. He has pitched two quality starts this postseason including one in Game 1 against the Dodgers. The Braves have seen all the Dodgers bullpen arms multiple times now with this being their second bullpen game, so I think the Braves will end the series tonight.