The Los Angeles Dodgers will be playing either the Atlanta Braves or the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series.
If the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to choose, who would they rather face in the 2026 National League Division Series?
LA finished the year with a bang as they became the second team in baseball to reach 100 wins this season.
Now, they're able to enjoy the week off, awaiting either the No. 3 Atlanta Braves or No. 6 Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
Obviously, the Dodgers don't get to choose who they want to play, but the Phillies limped into the playoffs this year, so it's going to be extremely interesting to see how they look in the coming days against the 94-68 Braves.
Atlanta ended up falling six games shy of the No. 2 seed, but baseball fans could be in for a treat if the Dodgers and Braves square off in the best-of-five series.
Dodgers went 4-2 vs. Phillies
Playing the lower seed is always preferred, but sometimes there are certain circumstances that would change that.
It was nearly an all-time collapse for the Phillies as they went from 85-68 to 87-74 and were one game away from missing the playoffs.
They were able to win their regular season finale, 7-3, to make sure that didn't happen.
Now, Philadelphia must travel to Atlanta to play a Braves team that is 52-29 at home this season.
For reference, the Braves had the third-best record at home this season and were one of only five teams with 50+ wins at home.
Sure, the Dodgers may have won the head-to-head series against the Phillies, but now would be quite the time for Bryce Harper and Co. to heat up.
Winning a best-of-three series at Truist Park would undoubtedly set the tone, and that would completely change the landscape of how the Dodgers felt about the Phillies coming into the Wild Card series.
Braves won five of six vs. Dodgers this season
On paper, the Braves shouldn't have a ton to worry about in a three-game sprint against the Phillies.
Atlanta went 9-4 against their National League East division rival, and it's already been said how good this Braves squad plays at home.
Should Atlanta prevail, the Dodgers could be in trouble. This is a Braves team that went 5-1 against the Dodgers this year, and they would be riding a ton of momentum fresh off the Wild Card round.
The Dodgers won the first meeting of the year on May 8, 3-1, but would then lose their next five meetings against the Braves this season.
Clearly, the Phillies are the preferred opponent, but having them win two of three in Atlanta is far easier said than done.
