The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers get ready for the second game of the evening as they play their season opener at 8:30 p.m. ET. Want to watch the game, but can't? Check out the live radio stream for free as ESPN Radio brings you the Braves and Dodgers online.
Click here for Braves/Dodgers Game 1 Predictions
Unlike the Braves and Dodgers, both teams will not present a divisional rivalry. However, both teams will feature some of the best talent around baseball. Both pitchers, Kris Medlen and Clayton Kershaw, have had their share of success in 2013. Both teams have young and electrifying players in their lineup. When both teams want to finish off a game, they release the beasts from their bullpens; Craig Kimbrel of the Braves and Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers.
The Braves have the mythical Oso Blanco, Evan Gattis, whose MLB story, though very brief, might seem too incredible to believe. Then Yasiel Puig stepped into the league and reporters and announcers quickly ran out of words to describe the Cuban talent.
These are just some of the talents that lie up and down both teams' rosters.
Many give the Dodgers the edge in this game since Kershaw has been baseball's most dominant pitcher. Medlen's 2013 season as a whole is deceiving. However, the kid seems to enjoy pitching in September, posting a 0.84 ERA over the final month of the season. In his last start, he out-dueled Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies, leading the Braves to a 1-0 victory.
The Braves will possess home field advantage, which is great for them since they struggled on the road. The Dodgers might have Kershaw, but Atlanta will be behind the Braves as Turner Field will predominantly backup the home team. In last year's postseason, a relatively quiet crowd in Atlanta became incensed after a blown fly rule killed a rally that could have led to big things for the Braves as they trailed against the St. Louis Cardinals in the N.L. Wild Card Game.
Now, the Braves do not have to worry about losing one game and seeing the end of the series. It's the best out of five as the Braves and Dodgers try to get one step closer to the World Series.
Click here for the radio stream of Game 1 betwee the Braves and Dodgers