DODGERS BEGIN NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES AGAINST BRAVES

The Los Angeles Dodgers start their National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday as they attempt to win a third consecutive World Series title, according to the BBC. The game forms part of an MLB play-off double-header broadcast live on the BBC, which opens with the Chicago White Sox visiting the Cleveland Guardians at 18:00 BST in their American League Division Series. The Dodgers' fixture at Dodger Stadium follows at 21:00 BST. The Dodgers received a bye for the opening round of the play-offs last week, the BBC reported.

Dodger Stadium, which opened in 1962, is the largest venue in Major League Baseball with a capacity of 56,000, according to the BBC. The Dodgers recorded a franchise attendance record this year of 4,034,219, averaging 49,805 fans per game, figures reported by the BBC show. The BBC said the signings of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2024 have been linked to a rise in the team's Asian fanbase and an increase in Japanese tourism to Los Angeles. Dodger Stadium is also set to host the Olympic baseball tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the BBC reported.

The BBC said the Dodgers' matches have drawn a number of celebrities and public figures, including actors Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Bryan Cranston, Jason Bateman and Rob Lowe, as well as Justin and Hailey Bieber. NBA player LeBron James and NFL quarterback Justin Herbert attended last year's World Series alongside Sydney Sweeney, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, according to the report. FOX Sports described the Dodgers as the least-flawed team in this year's play-offs, citing their pitching rotation and improving batting form. The Dodgers' series against the Braves continues after Saturday's opening fixture.