The Atlanta Braves host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series on Tuesday, October 6, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM ET at Truist Park. Chris Sale takes the hill for Atlanta against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in what is a marquee postseason pitching matchup. The game airs nationally on FS1. With the Braves playing in front of their home crowd in the NLDS, this is exactly the kind of October moment Truist Park was built for — and Atlanta's lineup is set to make things difficult for one of baseball's most talented young arms.

Pitching Matchup: Chris Sale vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Chris Sale gets the ball for the Braves in what is a high-stakes postseason assignment. Sale has long been one of the more electric lefties in the game, and the Braves are counting on him to set the tone early against a dangerous Dodgers lineup. His ability to generate swings and misses with his slider and to work deep into games will be central to Atlanta's chances.

Yamamoto presents a genuine challenge on the other side. The Dodgers right-hander brings an arsenal that includes a sharp splitter and a power fastball. He is capable of shutting down lineups when he is on, and the Braves will need to be disciplined and patient early in counts to have any chance of getting to the Los Angeles bullpen.

Atlanta Braves Starting Lineup

• Drake Baldwin, C
• Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
• Matt Olson, 1B
• Ozzie Albies, 2B
• Michael Harris II, CF
• Mauricio Dubón, LF
• Sean Murphy, DH
• Austin Riley, 3B
• Ha-Seong Kim, SS

Keys to Watch for the Braves

Ronald Acuña Jr. in the Heart of the Order

Batting second, Acuña slots in right behind Drake Baldwin and ahead of Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies. If Baldwin can get on base, Acuña becomes the most dangerous at-bat in the lineup. The Dodgers will have to decide early how they want to handle him — and there is no clean answer.

Sale's Ability to Limit the Dodgers' Offense

Los Angeles can score in bunches. Sale needs to be sharp from the opening inning. Any early trouble could force the Atlanta bullpen into a long night, which is a significant risk in a postseason game of this magnitude. If Sale can work into the sixth or seventh, the Braves are in a strong position.

Middle of the Order Must Produce

Olson, Albies, and Harris hitting third, fourth, and fifth gives Atlanta real run-scoring potential. Against Yamamoto, early contact and working counts will matter more than hunting for big swings. If the Braves can keep pressure on through the middle innings, they open the door to the Los Angeles bullpen.

Prediction

Truist Park is loud in October, and home-field advantage is real. Sale against Yamamoto is as good a pitching duel as the postseason will offer, and this one figures to be close deep into the game. The Braves' lineup has enough firepower to crack Yamamoto at least once, and if Sale can match him pitch for pitch through five or six innings, Atlanta finds a way to win a low-scoring game. Braves 3, Dodgers 2.