Few National League matchups carry the weight that Atlanta and Los Angeles do in October. When the Braves vs. Dodgers Meet In The Postseason Again: NL Foes' MLB Playoff History becomes the story of another autumn, it lands on ground already soaked in drama, heartbreak, and redemption. These two franchises have clashed repeatedly across decades, trading pennants and crushing dreams in equal measure. Every new chapter arrives on a history thick with tension. Here's the full walk through every verified Braves-Dodgers playoff meeting, what each one meant, and why this rivalry never truly settles.
Every Braves-Dodgers Playoff Series, Told in Order
The documented record between these clubs tells a story of shifting power, from Atlanta's 1990s dynasty to Los Angeles's recent run of dominance.
1996 NLCS: Atlanta Finally Breaks Through
The Braves took this one 4-2, and it felt like a dam bursting. After years of dominant regular seasons that ended in October pain, Atlanta's core finally converted that talent into a pennant. This was the payoff chapter, the moment the Braves proved their machine could finish the job against a proud Dodgers club.
2013 NLDS: Los Angeles Draws First Blood in the Modern Era
The Dodgers won 3-1, flipping the script on a new generation. This series marked the rivalry's modern-era reset, with Los Angeles announcing itself as the NL's emerging power and Atlanta left searching for answers.
2018 NLDS: Atlanta's Revenge on the Road
The Braves won 3-1, and the role reversal was stunning. A younger, hungrier Atlanta squad walked into Los Angeles and stunned the Dodgers in their own building, proving the rivalry's balance could tilt back at any moment.
2020 NLCS: A Seven-Game Classic
This is the centerpiece, a 4-3 Dodgers series that delivered everything October promises. The back-and-forth tension, the win-or-go-home swings, and the pivotal late-series moments made it an instant classic. Los Angeles survived, but only barely, and the scars lingered.
📊 The 2020 NLCS went the full seven games - the only Braves-Dodgers playoff series to reach a decisive Game 7 in the verified record.
2021 NLCS: Los Angeles Ends It Again
The rematch came fast, and the Dodgers won 4-2. This one cemented Los Angeles's recent upper hand, closing the door on Atlanta's redemption arc and reinforcing that when these two meet lately, the Dodgers find a way.
What the History Tells Us About the Next Chapter
The Numbers at a Glance
Table: Braves vs. Dodgers MLB Playoff Series Results (Verified)
| Season | Round | Winner | Series Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | NLCS | Braves | 4-2 |
| 2013 | NLDS | Dodgers | 3-1 |
| 2018 | NLDS | Braves | 3-1 |
| 2020 | NLCS | Dodgers | 4-3 |
| 2021 | NLCS | Dodgers | 4-2 |
The tally is clean: the Dodgers lead the all-time playoff series count with wins in 2013, 2020, and 2021, while Atlanta counters with 1996 and 2018. Three series to two, and every single one decided by multiple games that could have swung either way.
📊 Five playoff meetings, zero sweeps - every Braves-Dodgers series has stretched at least four games, a testament to how evenly matched these clubs remain.
Why This Rivalry Keeps Delivering
Two perennial NL powers, two fan bases that expect October, and a track record of series that come down to the final games. That's the recipe. When the Braves vs. Dodgers Meet In The Postseason Again: NL Foes' MLB Playoff History gets another entry, the stakes arrive pre-loaded. Atlanta wants to close the recent gap; Los Angeles wants to keep padding its edge.
For deeper context on how these clubs built their rosters and postseason résumés, the official MLB playoff archives and Baseball-Reference's franchise pages remain the gold standard for verifying every result.
The bigger picture? In this matchup, history is never really settled. Every October meeting feels like a correction, a rebuttal, a new argument in a debate that's been running for three decades. The Braves and Dodgers don't just play postseason series. They write chapters. And the next one, whenever it comes, will land on a rivalry that refuses to cool.
