The National League's top two seeds, the Dodgers and Braves, will begin the best-of-seven Championship Series on Monday in Arlington.
It will be the second time the Braves have faced the Dodgers in the past three Octobers. Los Angeles won, 3-1, in the 2018 NL Division Series. Both teams have evolved since that meeting, but the Braves have particularly grown, having won two division titles and two playoff series since taking on the more-experienced Dodgers that postseason.
"I thought when we faced them the last time, and I said it afterwards, we weren't as strong as they were," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "We've made a lot of progress in that regard. We're a better club now. We're more well-rounded. We're a stronger team than we were two years ago. Our offense, the bullpen, what we've seen out of the young starters is pretty good, too. We feel like we're a lot better than we were two years ago."
Now, the two NL legacy franchises are playing for a berth in the World Series. The Braves, who are underdogs, are seeking their first Fall Classic appearance since 1999 and first title since 1995. The Dodgers last appeared in the World Series in 2017 and 2018, but they're seeking their first championship since 1988.
"It's a complete club," Snitker said, evaluating the Dodgers. "It seems like they're not as much a platoon club as they were the last time we saw them in the playoffs. It's a very experienced, veteran team. They don't beat themselves. It's just a solid, solid club."
Matchups and stats to watch as the Braves try to make the World Series:
