Austin Riley knows one win in six tries against the Dodgers doesn’t exactly put the Braves on equal footing with the team boasting the best record in baseball.
Still, snapping a potential season sweep with a 4–3 victory on Sunday night meant a lot for Atlanta’s morale.
“It’s huge,” said Riley, who led the way with two early two-run homers to give the Braves a 4–0 advantage.
“This is a really talented group,” he added. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but this is the kind of win that helps us build confidence. It reminds us we can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league.”
Atlanta had a rough start to the season, dropping its first seven games — a stretch that included three straight losses in Los Angeles. Though they nearly clawed their way back to .500 at 14–15, another three-game losing streak followed, including back-to-back defeats to the Dodgers this past weekend. Saturday’s 10–3 loss pushed L.A.’s win streak to seven games and solidified their position atop the majors with a 23–10 record.
The Braves had dropped seven straight to the Dodgers dating back to last season, making Sunday’s win all the more meaningful.
“A win like this is big,” said manager Brian Snitker. “It reminds us that we’re a good team, too. No, we didn’t win the series, but this was an important win. It shows we can compete.”
Riley continues to be a bright spot for Atlanta, batting .292 with a team-leading eight home runs and 24 RBIs.
The Braves are also looking forward to the return of star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who could be back this month as he finishes rehab from last season’s ACL tear in his left knee. Acuña was limited to 49 games in 2023 but still captured NL MVP honors, slugging 41 home runs, stealing 73 bases, and batting .337.
When asked how Atlanta’s top hitters might stack up against the Dodgers’ superstar quartet of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández once Acuña returns, Snitker didn’t hesitate:
“We’re right there.”
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