The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves will face off on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Truist Park in the finale of their highly anticipated three-game series, with the Dodgers looking to complete a sweep and further solidify their place among MLB’s elite, while the Braves aim to halt a three-game skid and inject life into a sluggish start to their season. At 23-10, the Dodgers have been one of the most consistent and complete teams in baseball, led by a relentless offense that has powered them to victories in 21 of the 29 games where they’ve entered as the moneyline favorite, and when they dominate offensively—as evidenced by their 13-2 record when winning the wOBA battle—they rarely lose. Their offense, loaded with talent from top to bottom, has delivered both in terms of power and on-base efficiency, with players like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani fueling a lineup that consistently pressures opposing pitchers from the first inning. Dustin May will get the start for Los Angeles and brings a 1-1 record and a 3.95 ERA into the game, with 22 strikeouts over 27.1 innings, and while he hasn’t been dominant, his ability to induce ground balls and manage damage has helped the Dodgers stay in control of games when he’s on the mound. The Dodgers’ bullpen has been another bright spot, consistently closing games out and bridging the gap from the starter with arms like Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips contributing high-leverage reliability.

On the other side, the Braves come in with a disappointing 14-18 record and reeling from three straight losses, and while their underlying metrics suggest they’re capable of more, the results have not matched the roster’s talent thus far. Atlanta has been solid when favored—going 20-9 in those spots—but this recent stretch has exposed some cracks, particularly in the starting rotation and offensive consistency, and Sunday’s starter Bryce Elder will need to reverse that narrative quickly. Elder enters the matchup with a 1-1 record and a 5.33 ERA over 25.1 innings, and he’s struggled to keep runners off base and limit big innings, a dangerous combination against a Dodgers offense that punishes mistakes. The Braves’ offense, usually a powerhouse in its own right, has been cold of late, and while Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Austin Riley remain elite threats, their timing has been off and the lineup hasn’t consistently delivered with runners on base. If the Braves want to avoid the sweep, they’ll need early run support, defensive sharpness, and a much better performance from their bullpen, which has let late-inning leads slip in multiple games this season. This game likely hinges on whether Elder can survive the first few innings and whether the Braves’ offense can get to May before the Dodgers’ bullpen takes over, because if Los Angeles gets ahead early, they’ve proven nearly impossible to run down. Given the trends and current form, the Dodgers hold a significant edge, but with the Braves desperate to stop their skid and defend their home turf, this matchup could deliver fireworks if Atlanta’s stars show up ready to battle.