The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Atlanta Braves. Check out our MLB odds series for our Dodgers Braves prediction and pick.

Tony Gonsolin takes the bump for the Dodgers, while Spencer Strider goes to the rubber for the Braves.

Tony Gonsolin is the Dodgers' best starting pitcher right now. His 1.58 ERA is outstanding and one of the big surprises of the MLB season. The only thing missing from Gonsolin's profile in terms of contending for the Cy Young Award is durability. His starts rarely go seven complete innings. He has consistently been a six-inning pitcher, whereas National League Cy Young frontrunner Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins regularly goes into the eighth inning in his starts. If Gonsolin could become a seven-inning pitcher and maintain his ERA and other related numbers, he would take a big step forward in the N.L. Cy Young race. That point aside, Gonsolin has been so good this year that when he gave up two runs in five innings in his most recent start against the Reds this past week, it was his worst start — strictly in terms of innings pitched and runs allowed — since April 26. He has been that good.

Spencer Strider has a 3.40 ERA in his first big-league season. Strider was used as a reliever in April and most of May. He made his first MLB start on May 30 against the Diamondbacks. His five starts (May 30-June 21) have been feast-or-famine. His two bad starts led to 11 runs allowed in eight innings pitched. His three strong starts delivered a stat line of three runs allowed in 15 1/3 innings pitched. Strider throws smoke. His fastball pops and he certainly can rush the ball to the plate. Mixing speeds and getting better location are where he must improve. The Dodgers will challenge him in this spotlight game.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Dodgers-Braves MLB odds.

MLB Odds: Dodgers-Braves Odds

Los Angeles Dodgers: -1.5 (+146)

Atlanta Braves: +1.5 (-178)

Over: 8.5 (-114)

Under: 8.5 (-106)

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Why The Dodgers Could Cover the Spread

Gonsolin versus Strider is a pitching matchup the Dodgers should love. Gonsolin has been relentlessly consistent, whereas Strider — though clearly talented — is young and still learning how to pitch. The Dodgers suffered an agonizing loss on Saturday. They know how to bounce back from rough defeats, and after losing to the Braves in last October's National League Championship Series, you know they want this series win in Georgia.

Why The Braves Could Cover the Spread

After winning on Saturday night, the Braves continued to show why they are such a tough out in the National League. This team keeps showing its professionalism and resilience. The Braves have played great baseball over the past month to put themselves in solid wild card position while also giving them a chance to chase down the New York Mets in the National League East. The Braves have lost only four games in the month of June. It's really hard to bet against a team which is not only on a roll, but is using its championship experience to replicate great baseball on a steady basis. Spencer Strider is not better than Tony Gonsolin, but he has shown that he can overpower hitters and get them to swing and miss. He could very realistically have a good night against Dodger hitters who have had some modest slumps at various points in this 2022 season.

Final Dodgers-Braves Prediction & Pick

It is very hard to pick against the Dodgers whenever Tony Gonsolin, their best pitcher, goes to the mound. Since the Braves aren't throwing Max Fried (who pitched Saturday night), the Dodgers are the better pick.

Final Dodgers-Braves Prediction & Pick: Dodgers -1.5