Atlanta Braves

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Lore & Background

In 2021, the narrative surrounding these two franchises centered on the contrast between Los Angeles's historic regular-season volume and Atlanta's postseason efficiency. The Dodgers entered the playoffs with their ninth consecutive postseason appearance but found themselves eliminated by the Braves in the NLCS. This loss marked a significant turning point, ending a streak of five NLCS appearances for the Dodgers in six seasons. While the Dodgers had dominated the regular season to the tune of 106 wins—the most ever by an MLB team that failed to win its division or league—the series against Atlanta proved that dominance does not always translate to a championship. The Braves, who would go on to win the World Series, utilized their momentum from earlier rounds to dismantle Los Angeles in six games, solidifying their status as the final barrier for the Dodgers that year.

In Their Own Story

The path to the NLCS began with the Dodgers starting the season 13–2, matching the best 15-game start by a defending world champion. However, the road to Atlanta was fraught with challenges. After clinching their postseason spot on September 14, extending the franchise's longest streak, they finished one game behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West. Their playoff run started with a win against the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLWC Game, followed by a five-game victory over the Giants in the NLDS. The series against Atlanta tested every aspect of the Dodgers' roster. Despite their regular-season success and high win total, the Dodgers fell short in six games. The atmosphere shifted from the optimism of an 106-win campaign to the reality of elimination, as the Braves secured the series victory and moved on to capture the World Series title.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking at the 2021 season should note that the Dodgers' inability to win their division despite 106 wins was a unique statistical anomaly in MLB history. The team surpassed the records of the 1909 Chicago Cubs and 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers for most wins without winning the division or league. Their playoff journey included specific victories over the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants, but the series against Atlanta remains the defining moment of their postseason failure that year. The key takeaway is that while the regular season was historic in terms of win volume, the NLCS loss to the eventual champions highlighted the difficulty of converting regular-season dominance into a title when facing a team like the Braves.

Did You Know?

• The 2021 Dodgers had the most wins (106) ever by an MLB team that failed to win its division or league, surpassing the 1909 Cubs and 1942 Dodgers.
• Los Angeles beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLWC Game before defeating the San Francisco Giants in five games in the NLDS.
• The Braves went on to become the eventual World Series champions after eliminating the Dodgers in six games in the NLCS.
• The Dodgers failed to clinch the National League West for the first time since 2012, finishing one game behind the Giants.
• This was the fifth NLCS appearance for the Dodgers in the last six seasons.