Braves-Dodgers NLDS Start Times Announced; Atlanta Returns to Postseason After Five-Year Drought

The Atlanta Braves will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series starting Saturday, October 3, after MLB released the full start-time schedule for the best-of-five matchup. The Braves advanced by winning a decisive Game 3 of the Wild Card series against the Philadelphia Phillies, marking their first postseason series victory in five years.

The series pits the National League West champion Dodgers against a Braves team that has rebuilt its roster over the past several seasons. Atlanta enters the NLDS with momentum after overcoming a 1-0 deficit in the Wild Card round, while the Dodgers have been waiting since clinching the division title earlier in the week.

Schedule and broadcast details

All games in the series will be televised on FS1 and available for streaming on FOX ONE. The schedule includes two potential travel days between venues.

The complete NLDS schedule is as follows:

Game 1: Saturday, October 3 at Dodger Stadium, 4:00 p.m. ET

Game 2: Sunday, October 4 at Dodger Stadium, 8:00 p.m. ET

Game 3: Tuesday, October 6 at Truist Park, 6:00 p.m. ET

Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, October 7 at Truist Park, 6:00 p.m. ET

Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, October 9 at Dodger Stadium, 8:00 p.m. ET

Atlanta avoids early afternoon starts

Unlike some previous postseason assignments, the Braves will not play a daytime start on the road. Game 1 begins at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, and Game 2 moves to a prime-time slot. The home games in Atlanta are set for 6:00 p.m. starts, which allows fans to attend without taking full days off work. For West Coast viewers, Game 1 starts at 1:00 p.m. Pacific and Game 2 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific.

The series structure gives the Dodgers home-field advantage, hosting Games 1, 2 and a potential Game 5. The Braves will host Games 3 and 4 at Truist Park in Cobb County, Georgia.

What the series means for both teams

For the Braves, this NLDS appearance ends a five-year gap since their last postseason series win. The organization has focused on developing young talent and making strategic acquisitions to build a roster capable of competing deep into October. Facing the Dodgers, who have been one of the most consistent regular-season teams in baseball, represents a significant test.

The Dodgers enter as division winners with a rested pitching staff and a lineup that led the NL in several offensive categories during the regular season. Their rotation depth could become a factor if the series extends to a full five games.

For NationalSportsWeb readers, this series provides a clear look at how the Braves measure against a top-tier opponent after their Wild Card success. The start times allow fans across multiple time zones to plan viewing, and the broadcast on FS1 ensures national availability. The series also carries implications for the broader MLB postseason landscape: whichever team advances will face the winner of the other NLDS matchup in the National League Championship Series.

Source: Yahoo Sports – https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mlb-reveals-scheduled-start-times-041500005.html