ATLANTA — As the Braves head west to Los Angeles for the National League Division Series, they’ll be stepping into some extreme heat.
According to Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan, temperatures at Dodger Stadium for Games 1 and 2 could make these the hottest games the Braves and Dodgers play all season.
“Game 1 first pitch temperature could be into the upper 90s at Dodger Stadium,” Monahan said.
First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m. Pacific time Saturday, which is 4 p.m. in Atlanta.
Monahan said if temperatures reach the upper 90s as forecast, it would mark the hottest first-pitch temperature for both the Braves and the Dodgers this season.
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The Braves’ hottest first pitch this year was 95 degrees, while the Dodgers’ hottest first pitch came at 97 degrees.
Despite the heat, both teams have experienced success in hot-weather games.
The Dodgers are 5-2 this season in games where the first-pitch temperature was in the 90s.
The Braves have played more games under similar conditions and are 6-7 when temperatures at first pitch reached the 90s.
Monahan noted that while Braves games have generally been warmer than Dodgers games this season, the forecast for Los Angeles this weekend stands out because of an ongoing heat wave affecting Southern California.
Extreme heat warnings remain in effect across much of the region heading into the series.
With temperatures expected to soar, weather could become an unusual storyline in a playoff series featuring two of the National League’s top teams.