The Atlanta Braves open the National League Division Series at home on Wednesday, October 7, hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park for a 6:00 PM ET first pitch on FS1. Tyler Mahle takes the ball for Atlanta against Los Angeles's Tyler Glasnow in a marquee postseason matchup that pits two of the game's most recognizable rosters against each other. Home-field advantage is real in October, and Truist Park will be rocking. This one sets the tone for an entire series — and for Atlanta, there is no better place to start than at home.

NLDS Game 1 Starting Pitchers: Mahle vs. Glasnow

Tyler Mahle gets the nod as Atlanta's Game 1 starter, drawing one of the most challenging assignments in baseball: opening the postseason against a Dodgers lineup loaded from top to bottom. Mahle's ability to command multiple pitches and limit hard contact will be tested immediately against a Los Angeles order that can hurt you in a dozen different ways.

On the other side, Tyler Glasnow brings imposing stuff to the mound for the Dodgers. His upper-90s fastball paired with a hammer curveball gives him legitimate swing-and-miss potential against any lineup in baseball. If Glasnow is locked in early, Atlanta's bats will need to be patient and work counts rather than chase his premium stuff out of the zone.

Los Angeles Dodgers Lineup: A Threat at Every Spot

The Dodgers present a genuinely daunting lineup. Mookie Betts leads off, followed by Freddie Freeman — a name Braves fans know intimately — hitting second. Shohei Ohtani slots in at cleanup as the DH. Kyle Tucker bats eighth, which tells you everything you need to know about the depth Los Angeles carries into this series. There are no soft spots, and Mahle will need to be sharp from the very first batter.

Atlanta Braves Lineup: Keys to Watch

Brian Snitker's lineup features Michael Harris II leading off in center, with Ronald Acuña Jr. hitting second in right. Matt Olson bats third at first base and Ozzie Albies slots in fourth at second base, giving the Braves their core of proven postseason contributors in the heart of the order.

• Ronald Acuña Jr. vs. Glasnow: Acuña's combination of speed and power makes him Atlanta's most dangerous weapon. How he fares against Glasnow's fastball-curve combination early could define the game's momentum.
• Matt Olson's patience: Olson's approach at the plate against a power pitcher like Glasnow matters. Working deep counts and getting Glasnow's pitch count up gives the Atlanta bullpen a shorter task.
• Austin Riley batting eighth: Riley hitting eighth in the order is a lineup construction worth noting. His production in the middle of the game could be a factor if the Braves find themselves in a late-inning situation.
• Mahle's command early: Against this Dodgers lineup, Mahle cannot afford to fall behind in counts. Walks and mistakes elevated in the zone will be punished. First-pitch strikes are essential.

Game 1 Prediction

This is a genuine toss-up between two quality rosters, and Truist Park gives Atlanta a legitimate edge. The crowd will be loud, the stakes could not be higher, and the Braves are built for this kind of baseball. Glasnow is as dangerous as any postseason starter in the game, but Atlanta's lineup has the firepower to make him work. If Mahle can navigate the Dodgers' top of the order — Betts, Freeman, and Ohtani — and keep Los Angeles off the board through five innings, the Braves' bullpen and home-field advantage become significant factors late.

Prediction: Braves 4, Dodgers 3. Atlanta steals Game 1 in what figures to be a tightly contested October opener.