It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, LA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Atlanta, LA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“Always best senior care is a great company to work with. I've been working with Always best for a little over a year now and I absolutely love it. My clients are so sweet The company is very family oriented They don't just care about the clients they also care about the workers. My daddy was in the hospital and ended up passing away the company allowed me to take off so I could be at the hospital with my daddy, and after he passed away they allowed me to be off rest of the week.”
“Always Best Care is a commendable agency specializing in placing reliable caregivers in the homes of elderly patients. Recently, I engaged their services to find a caregiver for my grandmother, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome. Cyndi Williams from Always Best Care was instrumental throughout the process. Her dependability and understanding made the entire experience smooth and reassuring. From our initial consultation to the caregiver placement, Cyndi and the staff at Always best Care ensured that my grandmother's needs were prioritized, which greatly eased what could have been a challenging transition. Thanks to Always Best Care, my grandmother is not only well cared for but also genuinely happy with her caregiver. This has brought immense relief and peace of mind to our family, knowing that she is in capable hands. Overall, I highly recommend Always Best Care for their professionalism, compassion, and commitment to providing excellent elderly care services. They have truly made a positive difference in our lives during a time of significant adjustment. Claire Breslow”
“We have been very pleased with services from Always Best Care. They are awesome! They are very thorough, punctual, caring and helpful group. Shout out to Cynthia for going the extra mile to facilitate VA help for my step father. If your loved one is in need for in home care I highly recommend this company.”
“Angela Powell is the best! She wears her scrubs, comes right in my mother’s home and gets busy doing whatever my mother needs her to do. She just takes it upon herself to do things that she sees that needs to be done. Angela has a great disposition. I can tell she loves what she does. Our family absolutely loves and appreciates Angela. Thank you to Always Best Care!!!!!”
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Grant Park in Atlanta, LA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Aria or visit Swan House at Atlanta History Center, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Atlanta, LA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Atlanta, LA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Atlanta, LA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
She became an Olympic champion in Seoul. Janet Evans then won her fourth gold medal in Barcelona. But the star swimmer’s greatest Olympic moment came outside of a pool in Atlanta.LA28 announced Tuesday it will begin the U.S. portion of the 2028 Olympic torch relay in Atlanta in a return to the city that hosted the United States’ last Summer Games and provided the Olympic movement with one of its most iconic torch relay moments. The city where Evans passed the Olympic flame to Muhammad Ali changed the swimming champion&rsqu...
She became an Olympic champion in Seoul. Janet Evans then won her fourth gold medal in Barcelona. But the star swimmer’s greatest Olympic moment came outside of a pool in Atlanta.
LA28 announced Tuesday it will begin the U.S. portion of the 2028 Olympic torch relay in Atlanta in a return to the city that hosted the United States’ last Summer Games and provided the Olympic movement with one of its most iconic torch relay moments. The city where Evans passed the Olympic flame to Muhammad Ali changed the swimming champion’s view on the Games and fueled her desire to bring the torch back as LA28 hopes to write an equally influential chapter of Olympic history.
“I realized when I carried that torch that the flame represents so much more than medals,” said Evans, now LA28’s chief athlete officer. “It certainly represents victory and all those attributes about the Olympics. But it also brings people together, and it’s a symbol of hope and what the Olympic movement really does for everyone.”
The torch relay, which begins in Olympia, Greece, will come to the United States in spring 2028, pass through all 50 states and culminate on July 14, 2028, with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony in L.A.
Three decades ago, the relay legs were reversed. Atlanta’s U.S. torch relay started in L.A., where Evans was one of the first people to run with it in 1996. She never thought she would carry it again during the opening ceremony.
Swimmers never attend opening ceremonies, Evans retorted when Billy Payne, president and chief executive of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, asked her to run the penultimate leg of the torch relay. She would be competing the next day and needed to rest her legs ahead of her final Olympic races. She didn’t believe him when he promised that carrying the torch in the opening ceremony would surpass any Olympic medal she could win.
Running past her fellow Olympians in Centennial Olympic Stadium made Evans finally understand. At the top of a large ramp, Ali emerged out of the dark night. Evans felt a deep rumble as the boxing champion came into view. The stadium felt like it would collapse.
Ali, trembling from the effects of Parkinson’s disease but with strength still evident, held the flaming torch aloft.
Payne was “worried to death” that Ali could drop the torch, he said, 30 years later. Payne instructed Evans that if that happened, she was to grab his arm, pick up the specially engineered torch that would never extinguish and light the fuse ball together.
When Evans faced Ali to pass the flame, she knew she wouldn’t need to resort to Plan B.
“I saw it in his eyes,” Evans said. “I still talk to people that were in the stadium, and they say it changed me. It made me realize that I can do great things just like him.”
The torch and the flame endure in an ever-changing Olympic movement. The Games are no longer just a sports competition. They’re the biggest sporting event in the world. They’re seen as a symbol of unity. For host cities, they can also be seen as a high-stakes burden that must bring economic, commercial and civic success. Anything short of perfection feels like disaster on the world stage.
Now less than two years until the Games open, LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman acknowledged there can be some “angst” around the process that is kicking into the delivery phase.
LA28 is still trying to secure to ensure smooth transportation during the Olympics and Paralympics. The nightmare scenario of running over budget and saddling local taxpayers with debt hangs over the organizing committee.
With no permanent venues to build in advance, much of LA28’s spending will take place in the final stages. It’s almost that time to spend, Wasserman acknowledged. Getting to finalize major touchpoints such as the torch relay, the mascot and the medal designs while preparing to makeover existing venues signal excitement and confidence in the organization’s process.
“The part now [that] we are in is making sure all of our plans are clear, all of our difficult decisions are being made, so that when we go, we have as few changes and as few course corrections as possible,” Wasserman said. “Not that there won’t be any, but to limit those as much as possible, so that we operate towards the start line with as much certainty as possible, which is the only way to deliver a project of this scale.”
LA28 will announce the full torch relay route in 2027. The private organizing committee has a rough sketch of the path that will snake through all 50 states. The nationwide tour was one of Wasserman’s earliest plans for the relay. While he was intent to bring the Olympics back to L.A. for the third time, he has always wanted these to be “America’s Games.”
Payne is jealous that LA28’s torch relay will reach every corner of the United States when Atlanta only managed 42 states. LA28’s route promises to pass through iconic cities and landmarks, but Wasserman is most keen on carrying the torch through small towns, per advice he received from Payne.
“If you want to see the power and the impact of what you’re doing, that’s where you will feel it,” Wasserman said his Atlanta counterpart told him. “Because that city, that community, it will be the biggest thing in that town. That is the power of the Olympic movement.”
Payne calls it “the burden and the joy” of the torch. During his Olympic planning process, he was never more nervous than when he carried the flame through the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium, where he met his wife, Martha, and played for legendary football coach Vince Dooley. Hampered by a hip injury, Payne limped through only a third of his allotted distance. He still cherished every painful step.
“The sense of the entire history of the Olympic world, the hopes and dreams of all the athletes, indeed, all the people of my community, my city, my country, they were all supporting us,” Payne said. “It was an amazing emotional time, and one I think [of] every single time we do the Olympic torch relay. It impacts people very similarly.”
The flame is lit during a ceremony at Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, using a mirror and light from the sun. It will run through Greece before being transferred to the United States. Since the modern torch relay tradition began in 1936, the flame has burned underwater (Sydney 2000) and in space (Atlanta 1996) and traveled by plane, train, automobile, boat, pony and even camel.
To continue the tradition, LA28 will call upon thousands of torchbearers. LA28 will announce information on the torchbearer nomination process in the coming months.
Once it gets to the final 25 to 30 torchbearers, Wasserman said, each runner has to be “fundamentally important, connected and relevant to what we’re doing.” Runners could honor the Olympic movement’s past or future while celebrating L.A. and sports before passing the flame to the final torchbearer to light the cauldron.
The ultimate honor is typically reserved for sporting heroes from the host country, often with Olympic excellence on their resume. Since 1980, only two Summer Games have featured a cauldron lit by a non-Olympic or Paralympic athlete. Ali’s iconic moment set a high bar for the LA28 Games, but with 22 months left before the opening ceremony, the question of who will light L.A.’s cauldron remains a fun parlor game, Wasserman said.
He can make only one promise, which he first told Rafer Johnson. The legendary decathlete who climbed 99 steps to light the cauldron at the Coliseum in 1984 just begged Wasserman not to repeat the punishing path.
“Who lights it and how they get there, I don’t know,” Wasserman said, “but there won’t be however many stairs he ran up to get up to the bottom of the peristyle.”
LOS ANGELES -- The last time the Braves and Dodgers met in the postseason, a trip to the World Series was on the line.The Braves ousted the Dodgers in the 2021 NL Championship Series, going on to win the fourth championship in franchise history. But since then, Atlanta has not made it past the Division Series round, while L.A. is the defending back-to-back champion.The Dodgers' three-peat bid will begin in earnest when they take on the Braves in the 2026 NL Division Series starting this Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, wit...
LOS ANGELES -- The last time the Braves and Dodgers met in the postseason, a trip to the World Series was on the line.
The Braves ousted the Dodgers in the 2021 NL Championship Series, going on to win the fourth championship in franchise history. But since then, Atlanta has not made it past the Division Series round, while L.A. is the defending back-to-back champion.
The Dodgers' three-peat bid will begin in earnest when they take on the Braves in the 2026 NL Division Series starting this Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, with triple-digit heat in the forecast.
During the regular season, the Braves outplayed the Dodgers, winning five of their six meetings and outscoring them 26-15. But the postseason is a different beast, and a rested L.A. club will meet an Atlanta team that had to play hard to eliminate Philadelphia from the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch for Game 1 is set for 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. It will be broadcast on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX ONE.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Braves: Dylan DoddKey stat: 2.35 ERA over final 34 appearances
Dodd will make his first career postseason appearance while serving as Atlanta’s latest opener. He will attempt to duplicate the success Ray Kerr had when he tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings while serving as the opener against the Phillies in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday. Dodd isn’t a traditional left-handed specialist. He limited right-handed hitters to a .564 OPS and left-handed hitters to a .623 OPS this year.
Dodgers: Tarik SkubalIn somewhat of a surprise move, the Dodgers will be starting Skubal for Game 1 instead of Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Skubal has a career 2.04 ERA in the playoffs through six starts with the Tigers, including a 14-strikeout performance against the Guardians in the Wild Card Series last year.
Yamamoto had already established himself as a big-game pitcher long before arriving in the Majors, but he took it to another level last postseason when he tossed consecutive complete games in the NLCS and the World Series before closing out the winner-take-all Game 7 on zero days' rest. Yamamoto taking the ball in Game 1 would be the only way to have him available for a potential Game 5 on his usual rest.
What are the starting lineups?
Braves: Michael Harris II, Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin will have to contend with a lefty in Skubal again after facing two left-handed starters in Jesús Luzardo and Cristopher Sánchez during the Wild Card Series.
1. Drake Baldwin, DH2. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF3. Ozzie Albies, 2B4. Matt Olson, 1B5. Michael Harris II, CF6. Mauricio Dubón, LF7. Austin Riley, 3B8. Sean Murphy, C9. Ha-Seong Kim, SS
Dodgers: After Shohei Ohtani recovered from right biceps and left knee injuries and returned from the 15-day IL, manager Dave Roberts began using a platoon in the leadoff spot, slotting in Ohtani against right-handers and Mookie Betts against left-handers. With the Braves starting Dodd, the leadoff platoon -- as well as other tweaks corresponding to the handedness of the opposing starter -- is expected to continue in the postseason.
1. Mookie Betts, SS2. Shohei Ohtani, DH3. Will Smith, C4. Freddie Freeman, 1B5. Teoscar Hernández, LF6. Kyle Tucker, RF7. Andy Pages, CF8. Max Muncy, 3B9. Tommy Edman, 2B
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Braves: Didier Fuentes might be the only reliever who isn’t available. He pitched three consecutive days during the Wild Card Series. Robert Suarez has surrendered an extra-base hit in each of the three appearances he’s had since his right elbow inflammation forced him to the injured list in June. But his velocity was up and he looked more like himself while throwing two-thirds of an inning Thursday. He’ll likely get some high-leverage spots, especially with Dylan Lee struggling most of the second half and into the postseason.
Dodgers: L.A. may not have a set closer this postseason, but Tanner Scott, Roki Sasaki and Edwin Díaz all seem to be viable ninth-inning options. Righty reliever Edgardo Henriquez, whose regular season ended early due to a lower back strain, was activated for the NLDS, bolstering the Dodgers' already solid mix of leverage arms.
Any injuries of note?
Braves: RHP Bryce Elder (right knee surgery) and LHP Martín Pérez (lower back discomfort) will not be available during this series. Both could be available if the Braves advance to the NLCS.
Dodgers: World Series hero Will Klein (right elbow discomfort) has faced hitters, but he has not pitched in a game since July 31 and is viewed as more of a depth option.
Who is hot and who is not?
Braves: Olson, Albies and Harris all homered in Thursday’s win over the Phillies. Harris went 5-for-11 in the Wild Card Series. Baldwin went 2-for-13 and Acuña was 1-for-9.
Dodgers: In September, Betts (1.112 OPS) and Teoscar Hernández (.965 OPS) were two of the Dodgers' hottest hitters. Tucker (.890 OPS) had his best month by far in his disappointing first season in L.A., perhaps getting hot at the right time.
Freeman dealt with right patellar tendinitis early last month, and he has slugged just .355 since the beginning of July. Ohtani recorded a .666 OPS in his past 29 games, when his biceps and knee injuries flared up and impacted his performance.
Anything else fans might want to know?• The Dodgers are bidding for the fifth three-peat in World Series history, and the first since the 1998-2000 Yankees. They would be the first National League team to pull off the feat.
• The Braves and Dodgers will be meeting in the postseason for the sixth time. Atlanta was victorious in the 1996 NLDS and the 2021 NLCS. Los Angeles won the 2013 NLDS, 2018 NLDS and 2020 NLCS.
Supervising Club Reporter Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.
The Milwaukee Brewers, before Friday, had not played a World Series game in 44 years. Now they are two wins -- two little wins -- from their first World Series title. The Rays, meanwhile, come back home to Tropicana Field, the home where they have been so successful all year, trying to figure out a way to get back in this series.
Are we nearing a Brewers coronation? Or is this going to be a long series after all? Monday night’s game will tell us. Here are three key questions leading into World Series Game 3.
World Series Game 3: Brewers at Rays (MIL ahead 2-0)8 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX OneSP: Robert Gasser (MIL) vs. Freddy Peralta (TB)
Can Peralta continue his dominance -- against his former team, no less?
Mets fans might want to cover their eyes a bit here, but seriously, there has been no more dominant pitcher over the last two months than Freddy Peralta. Since Aug. 26, exactly two months ago from today, Peralta is a stunning 7-0 with an 0.89 ERA, with a couple of shiny awards to show for it: AL Pitcher of the Month for September and ALCS MVP. Peralta has turned out to be the absolute October ace many thought he would be at the beginning of the season; he’s just doing it for the Rays, not the Mets.
The Rays, fair to say, desperately need him to save them in Game 3, staring down the barrel of a potential 3-0 deficit. Peralta, of course, has to deal with some extra drama in this game, because he pitched the first eight seasons of his career with the Brewers, making two All-Star Games and appearing in seven different postseason series. Now he may be the last bulwark standing against the Brewers finally bringing a World Series trophy to Milwaukee. Peralta is at the center of everything in this series right now.
Is the Brewers’ bullpen just untouchable?
The story of this Brewers’ postseason -- and what might end up being the story of their first championship -- is their relentlessness. No lead is safe from their lineup, so it seems like they’re never out of a game. And while it’s true that the Brewers keep finding ways to claw their way back, no matter what deficit you throw in front of them, it’s worth noting what is allowing them to keep coming back in the first place: their bullpen.
In this series alone, Brewers relievers have thrown 10 innings and given up just one run; it’s the reason that four-run first inning for the Rays in Game 2 didn’t even this series all on its own. For the entire postseason, the Brewers’ bullpen has a 1.24 ERA in 50 2/3 innings, and it’s getting to the point that Aaron Ashby (who has yet to give up a run in 15 2/3 postseason innings) may end up being the clubhouse leader for World Series MVP. If you can’t touch a bullpen, you can’t win a series. And right now, you can’t touch Milwaukee’s bullpen.
Can the Rays clean it up in time?
The Rays play in the best, and probably most expensive, division in baseball, but they won it going away because they played tight, clean baseball throughout the season. They pitch well, they field well, they run the bases well, they make good decisions all around. Well, until this series, anyways. That was especially the case in Game 2. The Rays made fielding miscues (more than their one official error, on first baseman Jonathan Aranda, would indicate); they made mistakes on the basepaths; they were just generally sloppy all around. This has not looked like the Rays we all know and love.
“I guarantee you one thing: that nobody in this clubhouse wants to play the baseball that we've played the last couple days,” Junior Caminero said, and there surely isn’t a Rays fan who doesn’t feel the same way.
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It can be uniquely frustrating to watch a team play a certain way all year and then, on the biggest possible stage, have them play in the exact opposite way, but that is what has happened to the Rays in the World Series. Getting back to the Trop -- where they had the best home record in baseball -- will presumably help. It better. Because if the Rays don’t figure this out soon (really, Monday) the Trop will be where this season will end … with the Brewers popping champagne in the visitors’ clubhouse.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are on their way to Los Angeles, and hundreds of fans were there to send them off in style.Hours after punching their ticket to the National League Division Series, the Braves rolled out the red carpet at The Battery before boarding team buses bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.For fans like Alisha Allen, it was a chance to get one last look at their favorite team before the series against the Dodgers begins.“Let’s go Braves!” Allen shouted....
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are on their way to Los Angeles, and hundreds of fans were there to send them off in style.
Hours after punching their ticket to the National League Division Series, the Braves rolled out the red carpet at The Battery before boarding team buses bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
For fans like Alisha Allen, it was a chance to get one last look at their favorite team before the series against the Dodgers begins.
“Let’s go Braves!” Allen shouted.
The atmosphere felt more like a pep rally than a departure.
“It is priceless to see our home team win Game 3 and come back and leave here with a pep rally,” said Ennis Antoine.
Fans lined the route, cheering as players, coaches, the Tomahawk Team and mascot Blooper made their way down a red carpet before heading west.
“We’re going to L.A. It’s Hollywood. We gotta have a red carpet, right?” said Geoffrey Schmidt, the Braves’ director of events.
The up-close experience gave fans a rare chance to see the team outside the ballpark.
Jan Fox, who attended all three Wild Card games, said this was even better than having a great seat inside Truist Park.
“Let’s get those Dodgers! Chop on everybody! Double chops!” Fox said.
Many fans believe this team is ready for the challenge ahead.
“They got this! They got this!” Allen said.
The Braves will open the National League Division Series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, with Games 1 and 2 scheduled at Dodger Stadium before the series shifts back to Atlanta.
While the first games will be played on the West Coast, Braves fans won’t have to watch alone. Watch parties are planned around The Battery as the city rallies behind its team in pursuit of another postseason run.
Braves officials embraced the Hollywood theme before the team headed to Los Angeles.
“Listen. We’re going to L.A.! It’s Hollywood. We gotta have a red carpet, right?” said Geoffrey Schmidt, the Braves’ director of events.
Channel 2’s Michael Seiden was there as the buses arrived in a private section of the airport before the team departed for California.
While no fans were found making the trip west Friday afternoon, one supporter had already traveled hundreds of miles to support the Braves.
Jarek Penney flew in from Kansas City and was among those celebrating after Atlanta’s Wild Card Series victory over Philadelphia.
“It was incredible,” Penney said. “Totally packed, everybody was on their feet, so it was amazing.”
The Braves open the NLDS against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday.
It’s no secret: Atlanta is proud of our Olympic history. The last time the summer Games was hosted in the U.S., in 1996, Atlanta welcomed the world to our doorstep. And now, we’re thrilled to begin the Olympic Torch Relay on its journey to L.A. for the 2028 Olympics Games.In two years, one of the largest Olympic Torch Relays in history will begin in our city, before heading off on a historic 50-state run. Keep scrolling to see what we know so far!The Olympic TorchLast week, the United State...
It’s no secret: Atlanta is proud of our Olympic history. The last time the summer Games was hosted in the U.S., in 1996, Atlanta welcomed the world to our doorstep. And now, we’re thrilled to begin the Olympic Torch Relay on its journey to L.A. for the 2028 Olympics Games.
In two years, one of the largest Olympic Torch Relays in history will begin in our city, before heading off on a historic 50-state run. Keep scrolling to see what we know so far!
Last week, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee released a statement about the Olympic Torch’s 50-state-journey.
The committee states,
LA28’s Olympic Torch Relay will be one of the largest in Olympic history, moving across the nation, passing through iconic and internationally renowned landmarks, stopping at major cultural and sporting events and hosting festival celebrations in select cities nationwide.
Right now, we know for a fact that the Olympic Torch will begin its U.S. relay in Atlanta. The full route has yet to be announced–the committee states that the full route will be announced in 2027, gearing up for the Olympics.
The Olympic and Paralympic Committee states,
The Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, before making its journey through all 50 U.S. states in the spring of 2028.
And Atlanta is very excited to welcome the torch back stateside, even if just for the beginning of its journey!
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in the official statement,
Thirty years ago, Atlanta welcomed the world. The 1996 Centennial Olympic Games changed this city. They introduced a modern Atlanta to billions of people across the globe and proved we could compete on the biggest international stage. Thirty years later, Atlanta looks a little different. We are bigger. We are more connected to the world. So, when the flame returns to the U.S., Atlanta will be ready. Ready to welcome it from Greece. Ready to celebrate the spirit of the Games together as a community. And ready to send it forward toward Los Angeles and the next chapter of America’s Olympic story. Atlanta was proud to carry that flame in 1996. We will be proud to welcome it back.
We’ll have your lemon pepper wings ready, Olympic Torch! See you in 2028!
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