LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have finally found the kind of momentum they were looking for. Now comes the test that could tell them — and their fans — whether this turnaround is real.
Los Angeles enters Tuesday night with an 80–51 record and a six-game winning streak, tied for the team’s longest winning streak of the season. The Dodgers just completed a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh, including Sunday’s 4–0 shutout behind a dominant performance from Blake Snell.
But the Dodgers aren’t facing another struggling opponent tonight.
They are heading into Truist Park to face the Atlanta Braves, who enter the series at 76–55 and in first place in the NL East.
And there is another reason tonight’s game has Dodgers fans watching closely:
Tyler Glasnow is returning to the mound.
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The Dodgers Have Completely Changed Their Momentum
The six-game winning streak is particularly impressive because it comes immediately after one of the team’s roughest stretches of the season.
Before this run, Los Angeles had lost 11 of its previous 16 games.
Now the Dodgers have swept the Rockies and Pirates and improved to 10–3 since August 10, according to Reuters’ account of Sunday’s win.
Manager Dave Roberts has pointed to several improvements during the streak, including better defense, smarter baserunning, fewer mental mistakes and more consistent at-bats.
That is important because the Dodgers don’t simply need to win games in August.
They need to enter October playing clean baseball.
L.A. Is Already One of Baseball’s Best Teams
The Dodgers became the second team in MLB to reach 80 victories, joining Milwaukee.
Their 80–51 record gives them a strong position in the NL West, but the bigger race may be happening at the top of the National League.
The Braves are also chasing postseason positioning.
That makes this three-game series considerably more interesting than an ordinary late-August matchup.
It is a chance for two division leaders to measure themselves against each other with October approaching.
Tonight’s Big Story: Glasnow Is Back
The biggest immediate storyline for Los Angeles is Tyler Glasnow.
MLB’s official schedule lists Glasnow as Tuesday’s starter against Atlanta’s Bryce Elder. Glasnow enters with a 3–0 record, 2.72 ERA and 49 strikeouts.
For the Dodgers, his return is important beyond tonight’s game.
A healthy Glasnow gives the team another high-level option for a postseason rotation that has already been strengthened by the return of Blake Snell.
But after an extended absence, the question isn’t simply:
Can Glasnow pitch?
It’s:
How deep can he go, and how quickly can he return to his previous form?
Tonight should provide the first major answer.
Glasnow vs. Bryce Elder
The pitching matchup gives Atlanta a legitimate chance to slow the Dodgers down.
Atlanta is sending Bryce Elder, who enters with an 8–7 record, 3.92 ERA and 113 strikeouts.
Glasnow’s numbers are stronger, but Atlanta has home-field advantage and a lineup capable of changing a game quickly.
The Dodgers cannot afford to assume the winning streak will continue simply because they’ve been playing well.
And Then There’s Shohei Ohtani
If Glasnow’s return is the immediate storyline, Shohei Ohtani’s potential pitching return is the bigger October storyline.
Ohtani has continued progressing toward a return to the Dodgers’ pitching rotation.
The latest reports indicate that he could potentially pitch this weekend in Detroit, although the exact timing remains subject to the Dodgers’ plan for his buildup.
That is potentially enormous for Los Angeles.
Ohtani isn’t just another starting pitcher.
He is already one of the Dodgers’ most dangerous hitters.
If he can return to the mound while continuing to contribute offensively, Los Angeles could enter September with an entirely different roster profile.
Why Ohtani’s Return Could Change the Dodgers
Imagine the Dodgers entering October with:
- Ohtani contributing as a hitter and pitcher
- Glasnow back in the rotation
- Blake Snell continuing to build up after his return
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto anchoring the staff
- A deep group of bullpen options
- A lineup featuring Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy
That is the version of the Dodgers their fans have been waiting to see.
But there is still a lot that has to go right before October.
The Dodgers Still Have Problems to Solve
The winning streak doesn’t mean everything is suddenly perfect.
The biggest concern is health.
Andy Pages is dealing with a fractured hand and is expected to miss at least four weeks, according to recent Dodgers coverage.
And the bullpen continues to require attention.
The Dodgers are also managing the workload and return schedules of several pitchers.
That means the next month will be less about simply winning games and more about building the roster that will actually take the field in October.
The Dodgers Have Depth — But They Need It Healthy
One of the advantages Los Angeles has is its depth.
When Pages went down, the Dodgers were able to bring in Alek Thomas, who contributed during the Pittsburgh series.
Thomas delivered an RBI single in Sunday’s 4–0 victory, while Hunter Feduccia also drove in a run.
That matters.
Championship teams rarely make it through a full season without injuries.
The difference is whether they have enough depth to absorb them.
Why Tonight’s Game Matters More Than the Standings
The Dodgers don’t desperately need this win.
That’s precisely why the game is interesting.
Los Angeles already has a strong division lead.
But the Braves provide something the standings don’t:
a legitimate postseason-level test.
The Dodgers have spent much of the season beating teams they were expected to beat.
Now they get a three-game opportunity against another division leader.
If the Dodgers continue winning against Atlanta, their six-game streak begins to look even more convincing.
If they struggle, questions about how well they perform against elite competition could return.
The Dodgers Are Chasing More Than the NL West
Winning the NL West is important.
But Los Angeles has much bigger ambitions.
The Dodgers want the best possible postseason position.
They want home-field advantage.
And they want to avoid entering October with a roster full of question marks.
The National League race remains competitive, with Atlanta and Milwaukee among the teams fighting for advantageous postseason positioning.
That makes every late-August series against a strong opponent more meaningful.
Ohtani’s Bat Is Already Making History
While fans wait for Ohtani’s return to the mound, he continues to produce offensively.
He has already reached 30 home runs this season, giving him three consecutive 30-plus-homer seasons with the Dodgers, according to recent Dodgers coverage.
That means Los Angeles isn’t waiting for Ohtani to become an offensive threat.
He’s already one.
The potential return to pitching would simply add another dimension.
And that is what makes the Dodgers particularly dangerous on paper.
What Dodgers Fans Should Watch Tonight
1. How does Glasnow look?
His velocity, command and workload will be closely watched.
2. Can the Dodgers extend the streak to seven?
Six straight is impressive.
Seven against Atlanta would be even more meaningful.
3. How does the offense handle Elder?
Freddie Freeman, Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy will face an Atlanta pitcher with a 3.92 ERA.
4. How does the bullpen perform?
Late innings could become especially important in a game featuring two playoff-caliber teams.
5. What happens with Ohtani next?
If his pitching progression continues as planned, the next few days could bring another major Dodgers headline.
Dodgers vs. Braves: What to Know Tonight
Game: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta
First pitch: 4:15 p.m. Pacific / 7:15 p.m. Eastern
Dodgers record: 80–51
Braves record: 76–55
Dodgers starter: Tyler Glasnow
Braves starter: Bryce Elder
TV: SportsNet LA, TBS and BravesVision
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The Bigger Question for Los Angeles
The Dodgers don’t need to prove they can win 80 games.
They already have.
They don’t need to prove they can dominate the NL West.
They have a significant lead.
What they need to discover now is whether this version of the team can carry its momentum into October.
And that requires more than one hot week.
It requires health.
It requires pitching depth.
It requires consistent defense.
And it requires the stars to be ready when the pressure becomes enormous.
That’s why the next several weeks could be some of the most important of the Dodgers’ season.
The Bottom Line
The Dodgers enter August 25 with an 80–51 record and six consecutive victories, having just swept the Pirates.
Tonight, they begin a three-game series against the 76–55 Atlanta Braves, another division leader with postseason ambitions.
The immediate headline is Tyler Glasnow’s return to the rotation.
The bigger one may be Shohei Ohtani’s potential return to pitching this weekend.
For a Dodgers team that recently looked vulnerable after losing 11 of 16 games, the turnaround has been dramatic.
Now comes the harder part.
Can L.A. turn a six-game winning streak into the kind of momentum that carries all the way into October?
Tonight’s matchup with Atlanta is the next big test.
Official Dodgers & Game Links
Los Angeles Dodgers — Official Website
Dodgers vs. Braves — Official MLB GameDay
Dodgers Probable Pitchers & Schedule
AI Image Disclosure
Image Disclaimer: The featured images in this article were generated using artificial intelligence (AI) for illustrative and editorial purposes. They do not depict actual photographs from tonight’s Dodgers-Braves game or represent live game action.
