Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers NLDS Game 1: Start Time, TV Channel, Live Stream and More

Sep 27, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kris Medlen (54) pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Date: October 3, 2013

First Pitch Time: 8:37 PM ET

Pitching Probables: Kris Medlen (Atlanta) vs. Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles)

TV Channel: TBS

Radio: 93.7 FM/680 AM (Atlanta Flagship), Atlanta Braves Radio Network (Local Affiliates)

Live Stream: MLB.TV and MLB At-Bat 2013

Braves lineup:

Heyward CF
Upton RF
Freeman 1B
Gattis LF
McCann C
C Johnson 3B
Simmons SS
E Johnson 2B
Medlen P

Dodgers Lineup:

Crawford LF
Ellis 2B
Ramirez SS
Gonzalez 1B
Puig RF
Uribe 3B
Schumaker CF
Ellis C
Kershaw P

Before we get going, be sure to check out our full-length series preview here!

The Atlanta Braves won their first NL East title since 2005, and are hoping to carry that over to their first series win since the 2001 NLDS. To accomplish this, they will have to go up against the probable 2013 Cy Young winner and the best pitcher in baseball over the past few years in Clayton Kershaw. The Braves did win 5 of the 7 games with the Dodgers this season, by sweeping them at Turner Field and splitting a four-game set in LA, but did not face Clayton Kershaw in any of those games. In fact, the Braves haven’t faced Kershaw since September of 2011.

Kris Medlen, on the other hand, faced the Dodgers twice this season, with the Braves getting the victory in both of those games. In a 3-1 victory at Turner Field on May 18, Kris was absolutely stellar. He went 7 innings, only giving up 2 hits and 1 unearned run. He walked 3 and struck out 5, but left the game with the Braves losing 1-0. This was the game that Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons hit back-to-back homers off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in the 8th inning.

Medlen also faced the Dodgers on their trip out west, and he pitched the Braves to a 2-1 victory. He went 6.2 innings that day and allowed no earned runs while allowing 5 hits, 1 walk and striking out 6. You might also remember this as the game where Kris helped himself with a solo home run. Overall this season, Meds tossed 13.2 innings against the Dodgers and didn’t give up an earned run. Keep in mind, though, that the Dodgers had a losing record at the time of both of those series and were in last place in the NL West. Neither Yasiel Puig or Hanley Ramirez played in the series in Atlanta, and Puig had just been called up right before their series in LA while Ramirez only made pinch-hitting appearances.

Medlen also seems to have hit a groove and has started pitching like he did when he was so dominant last season. Meds was the NL Pitcher of the Month for September, going 4-0 in 5 starts while putting up an ERA of 1.00. Kris has also been very vocal leading up to this game, and said he is feeling much more confident than he was before his postseason start last year against the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card game.

Another sign of hope for the Braves is that they posted the best home record in the majors this season, going 56-25 at Turner Field and have the home field advantage in this series. But every silver lining has a touch of grey, as they have lost their last 3 home playoff games in a row, while losing a total of 5 of their last 6 at Turner Field.

I expect this to be a close, low-scoring affair and the first team to score 3 will probably win the game.

Get your series and game 1 predictions in before the start of the game in the comments section. Some of us will be posting in the thread throughout the game, so join us for some good Braves baseball talk.

GO BRAVES!

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