The Los Angeles Dodgers will play the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series. While the Braves are a challenging opponent, defeating the Dodgers in any playoff series always proves to be difficult. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman even believes LA has its best playoff pitching staff this year.

“I feel like this is the best and deepest pitching staff we've ever had going into October,” Friedman said, via Bob Nightengale. “I think we had some tough conversations in leaving some guys off the roster. That would have never happened before.”

It's an especially bold claim considering the fact that the Dodgers have won each of the past two World Series.

The Dodgers' pitching staff is strong without question. To begin the NLDS, Tarik Skubal will start Game 1. Blake Snell is set to follow in Game 2 with Yoshinobu Yamamoto expected to pitch in Game 3. Other starters who can either pitch in the rotation or the bullpen in the postseason include Roki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow and Kris Bubic.

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Star-power and depth are not a problem for this Dodgers ball club. The Braves' pitching is not as deep, which certainly provides LA with an advantage. Nevertheless, anything can happen in the postseason. The Dodgers know that they cannot afford to overlook the Braves.

It should be a good series. Atlanta could make things interesting. Los Angeles clearly has confidence heading into the series, however.

First pitch for Game 1 of the NLDS is scheduled for 4 PM ET at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles as LA looks to begin its postseason journey strong.