Why the Braves, full of ex-Giants, are the perfect team to knock Dodgers out of playoffs

The SF Giants are not in the playoffs yet again which means it is time for our favorite annual tradition of cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers to lose. That hasn’t worked out great the last two years, but maybe a team full of ex-Giants can thwart Los Angeles as it attempts to three-peat.

The Atlanta Braves begin Game 1 of their NL Wild Card series against the Philadelphia Phillies today. There are four ex-Giants on their Wild Card roster: Mauricio Dubon, Dominic Smith, Mike Yastrzemski, and Tyler Mahle. In Game 2, Mahle will be Atlanta’s starter which shows just how good he’s been since the Giants traded him to Atlanta in exchange for Anthony Molina at the trade deadline.

Mahle had a 1.99 ERA in nine starts with Atlanta. He struck out 48 batters in 54 and 1/3 innings of work while walking only nine and had a WHIP lower than 1.00. The Braves changed up his pitch mix, getting him to focus more on his splitter rather than his cutter and the change seemed to do wonders for him.

That certainly raises questions about San Francisco’s coaching staff and its ability to get the most out of its pitchers, but at least there’s a chance Mahle can carve up the Dodgers in the NLDS.

The winner of the Wild Card series between Atlanta and Philadelphia will face the Dodgers. Los Angeles will be rested and all of its big arms seem to be ready to rock as Blake Snell pitched for the Dodgers during the final series of the year against the Giants.

They obviously won’t be an easy out, but it’s worth remembering that the San Diego Padres had them on the ropes down 2-1 in the 2024 NLDS before blowing it in typical Padres fashion. Last year the Dodgers easily could have lost the World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays had just a couple breaks gone against them.

It’s not like they just sweep everyone on the way to a title so if the Braves can get past the Phillies with a little momentum, the Dodgers might be a bit rusty and Atlanta will have the chance to catch them off guard.

Ex-Giants fan favorites can end Dodgers' three-peat hopes

Guys like Yastrzemski, Smith, and Dubon are all familiar with what it’s like to play in Dodger Stadium, or Uniqlo Field, and the rest of the roster is full of veterans who probably won’t be phased by playing the two-time defending champs. Keep in mind Smith sacrificed his hamstring in the name of the Giants-Dodgers rivalry last year so he's going to go all out.

Plus, Shohei Ohtani is clearly not one hundred percent as he’s still nursing his knee injury. He won’t be on the mound in the playoffs and if he’s not at full strength maybe that prevents the Dodgers from winning it all again.

In a dream scenario, Yastrzemski hits a go-ahead or walk-off homer to end LA’s season so that’s what we have to cheer for as the Giants lick their wounds following a dreadful regular season.

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