Braves vs. Dodgers: A Brief Playoff History Lesson

Upon clinching the NL East on September 22, the Braves spent the next nine days wondering whom they would face in the National League Division Series. With Monday’s 5-2 victory triumph over the Rockies, the Dodgers won the NL West and slotted in as the #2 seed, and tomorrow they will host the Braves for the first of a best-of-five series.

While the Braves were expected to scuffle throughout the season, and were dismissed as a non-contender by many, the Dodgers were expected to handily win their division and make a run at the World Series for the second consecutive year. For two teams with such divergent paths, both of which have rosters stacked to the gills with exciting young talent, this…