Atlanta Topples Dodgers to Reach First World Series Since 1999

In third place on Aug. 13, Atlanta rode a surprising group of trade deadline acquisitions to a pennant, outlasting the 106-win Dodgers. Next up: the Houston Astros.

ATLANTA — Surely, the thinking around town went, the Atlanta Braves would find a way, as usual, to blow it.

Not this time (or at least not yet).

Atlanta, which did not muster a record above .500 until Aug. 6, improbably captured the National League pennant on Saturday, when it beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2, in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.