The Atlanta Braves won an important game on Friday night at Truist Park, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first of a four-game series.

They’ll hope that sets the tone for an important late-season series as they chase the New York Mets for the third and final wild-card spot.

Game 2 is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. EDT and you can watch it on the MLB Network or live stream it on ESPN+, fubo TV (add-on, FREE trial), Sling TV (add-on, discount) or DirecTV Stream (add-on, FREE trial and discount).

Jack Flaherty (12-6, 2.86 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 180 strikeouts) will start for the Dodgers and Chris Sale (16-3, 2.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 213 strikeouts) will try to improve on his CY Young Award chances when he takes the ball for the Braves.

The Braves are 6-4 in their last 10 games.

Spencer Schwellenbach, who started the season in the Class A Sally League, surrendered two runs on four hits in six strong innings on Friday night.

Gio Urshela and Jorge Soler went deep for the Atlanta Braves as the Braves scored five times in the first two innings and put the game away early.

Atlanta remained a game behind the Mets for the NL’s final wild-card spot.

• WATCH: MLB Network or live stream it on ESPN+, fubo TV (add-on, FREE trial), Sling TV (add-on, discount) or DirecTV Stream (add-on, FREE trial and discount)

Meanwhile, the Dodgers came in with a five-game lead over Arizona in the NL West. LA’s magic number was 11 to clinch their 12th division title in the last 13 years.

Los Angeles also started a rookie, Landon Knack, who didn’t fare nearly as well as Schwellenbach on a night where showers sent fans scattering for cover a couple of times but never halted play.

Miguel Rojas hit a solo homer for Los Angeles. But the top three in the Dodgers order — Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — went 0 for 11.

Ohtani went hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts, putting a hold on his quest to become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season. The Dodgers star is at 47 homers and 48 stolen bases with 15 games left in the regular season.

The teams match up Saturday for the fifth time this season. The Dodgers lead the season series 3-1.

The Atlanta Braves have been without second baseman Ozzie Albies since late July, when he went down with a fractured left wrist. While his return date is still up in the air, Albies is hopeful that it will be sometime this season.

While Albies eyes a return this season, Braves skipper Brian Snitker remains unsure. The two have not discussed it yet.

The Braves are currently fighting for a playoff spot, and the return of Ozzie Albies may be just what the team needs.

More Braves News:

Whit Merrifield returned (on a fractured foot) and the Braves opened the series with a 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rome’s playoff elimination headlines the latest minor league recap.

The Chicago Cubs claimed right-hander Jimmy Herget off waivers from the Braves and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa.

In the latest Braves Dispatch, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution discusses Brian Snitker’s case for NL Manager of the Year.

MLB News:

Cincinnati Reds infielder Matt McLain will not return this season after facing a setback during his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.

New York Mets reliever Dedniel Nuñez is out for the remainder of the season due to a flexor injury. He received an injection Friday and will hopefully avoid surgery.

Jacob deGrom made his season debut with the Texas Rangers, reaching 98.7 mph in his first big league appearance since April 2023.

The New York Yankees have moved right-hander Marcus Stroman to the bullpen for the time being.

The Texas Rangers extended Chris Young and promoted the former general manager to president of baseball operations.

The New York Mets are calling up top prospect Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Ronald Acuña Jr.