Braves vs Dodgers NLDS Game 2: Time, Pitchers & Game 1 Recap
Braves vs Dodgers NLDS: Skubal led LA to a 5-3 Game 1 win. Game 2 time, TV channel, probable pitchers and the full 2026 NLDS schedule in one place.
Jay Chotaliya
Author & Contributor
Braves vs Dodgers is one of the top searches in the US after Los Angeles won Game 1 of the 2026 NLDS 5-3 at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Tarik Skubal struck out seven in 100-degree heat. Game 2 is Sunday, October 4, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on FS1, with Blake Snell starting for the Dodgers. Here's the Game 1 recap, the Game 2 preview and the full series schedule.
Key Takeaways
- The Dodgers lead the best-of-five NLDS 1-0 after a 5-3 win in Game 1.
- Tarik Skubal allowed one run on two hits over six innings, with seven strikeouts.
- Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy all homered for LA.
- Game 2 is Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Blake Snell pitches for LA, and Atlanta's starter is still to be announced.
Braves vs Dodgers Game 1 Recap: Skubal Beats the Heat
Game 1 started at 1 p.m. PT with the temperature around 100 degrees, close to a Dodger Stadium record. Two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal handled it well, giving up one run on two hits in six innings with seven strikeouts. "To go through six in these conditions I thought was fantastic," manager Dave Roberts said (Source: AP via KSAT).
The Dodgers did their damage with home runs. Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker, who had both been in slumps, hit two-run homers, and Max Muncy also went deep. "The bigger the moment, the more focused I get," Hernández said.
The Braves managed only four hits. Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer in the ninth to make it close, but LA held on to win 5-3.
Braves vs Dodgers Game 2: Time, TV and Pitchers
| Detail | Game 2 |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, October 4, 2026 |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (5:30 a.m. IST Monday) |
| Venue | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles |
| TV / Stream | FS1, FOX Deportes, FOX One |
| Dodgers starter | Blake Snell (LHP) |
| Braves starter | TBD (Chris Sale undecided; Grant Holmes or JR Ritchie possible) |
Snell's 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings ranked sixth among MLB starters this season. Atlanta catcher Sean Murphy has had success against him (3-for-8 with a double and a homer), and Lane Thomas is expected back in the Braves lineup after an injury (Source: MLB.com).
How to Watch Braves vs Dodgers (US and India Times)
In the US, Game 2 is on FS1, with FOX Deportes for Spanish coverage and streaming on FOX One (Source: MLB.com). Fans in India will need early alarms, since the games start before sunrise there:
- Game 2: 5 p.m. PT Sunday = 5:30 a.m. IST Monday, October 5
- Game 3: 3 p.m. PT Tuesday = 3:30 a.m. IST Wednesday, October 7
- Game 4 (if needed): 3 p.m. PT Wednesday = 3:30 a.m. IST Thursday, October 8
- Game 5 (if needed): 5 p.m. PT Friday = 5:30 a.m. IST Saturday, October 10
Why Game 2 Is a Must-Win for Atlanta
MLB.com notes that teams that go up 2-0 in a best-of-five series go on to win it 89% of the time. "We've got to get one [Sunday]," Braves reliever Brent Suter said. Atlanta also has injury problems: right-hander Bryce Elder (knee surgery) and left-hander Martín Pérez (back) are out. The Dodgers are without reliever Blake Treinen (shoulder inflammation) (Source: MLB.com).
There is hope for Atlanta, though. The Braves won five of the six regular-season meetings, including a three-game sweep at home in late August (Source: Yardbarker).
Full 2026 NLDS Schedule: Braves vs Dodgers
| Game | Date | Time (PT) | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Oct 3 | 1 p.m. | Dodger Stadium | FOX (Dodgers won 5-3) |
| 2 | Sun, Oct 4 | 5 p.m. | Dodger Stadium | FS1 |
| 3 | Tue, Oct 6 | 3 p.m. | Truist Park | FS1 |
| 4* | Wed, Oct 7 | 3 p.m. | Truist Park | FS1 |
| 5* | Fri, Oct 9 | 5 p.m. | Dodger Stadium | FOX |
*If necessary. The Dodgers have home-field advantage after a first-round bye. The Braves reached this round by beating the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card Series. This is the sixth postseason meeting between the two clubs (Source: Yardbarker).
How the Braves and Dodgers Got Here
The Dodgers' better regular-season record earned them a first-round bye and home-field advantage. The Braves had to win the Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The early Game 1 start time was set partly because the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs in their Wild Card series, which allowed the schedule to avoid the worst of a Southern California heat wave (Source: Yardbarker).
Atlanta's regular-season record against Los Angeles, five wins in six games, is the main reason many fans expected a close series. Game 1 showed how much a top starter can change things in October.
What the Braves Need to Change in Game 2
- Get on base early: four hits in Game 1 won't win a playoff game. Atlanta needs traffic on the bases before Snell settles in.
- Keep the ball in the park: all of LA's key runs came from three home runs, two of them two-run shots.
- Use the matchups: Sean Murphy's past success against Snell and Lane Thomas's return should give the lineup a lift.
- Settle the starter: whether Chris Sale can go will shape the whole plan for Atlanta's pitching staff.
Can the Dodgers Close It Out Quickly?
For Los Angeles, the formula is simple: strong starting pitching and timely power. With Skubal done for Game 1 and Snell up next, the Dodgers have two of the best left-handed starters in baseball at the top of their rotation. A Game 2 win would send them to Atlanta needing just one more win in three chances.
Key Players to Watch
- Tarik Skubal (LAD): his 63 postseason strikeouts are second-most all-time for a pitcher through his first seven playoff appearances.
- Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker (LAD): both broke out of slumps with homers in Game 1.
- Ozzie Albies (ATL): his ninth-inning homer showed Atlanta's lineup can still strike.
- Sean Murphy (ATL): he has hit Snell well in the past.
FAQ
Who won Braves vs Dodgers Game 1?
The Dodgers won 5-3 on October 3, 2026, and lead the NLDS 1-0.
What time is Braves vs Dodgers Game 2?
Sunday, October 4, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on FS1.
Who is pitching in Game 2?
Blake Snell starts for the Dodgers. The Braves had not confirmed their starter at the time of writing.
Where are Games 3 and 4?
At Truist Park in Atlanta on October 6 and (if needed) October 7.
How many games are in the NLDS?
It is a best-of-five series, so the first team to three wins advances to the NLCS.
Who won the Braves vs Dodgers season series in 2026?
The Braves won five of the six regular-season games, including a three-game home sweep in late August.
What happened in the ninth inning of Game 1?
Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer to cut the gap, but the Dodgers held on to win 5-3.
Final Word
Skubal and the long ball gave the Dodgers the first win, but the Braves beat LA five times in six games during the season, so this series is far from over. Watch Game 2 on Sunday night, and follow every trending sports story on PostNest. Got a hot take on the NLDS? Write a guest post on PostNest.
