The Dodgers are heading into Game 3 of the NLDS with the series knotted at 1-1, and ESPN’s Jesse Rogers has already put a loud prediction on what comes next.
Los Angeles goes on the road Tuesday night to face Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves, with postseason standout Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the ball for the Dodgers in what is being framed as the biggest game of their season.
Rogers thinks the series turns in Atlanta’s favor from there. “Walt Weiss' master strategy of holding back Chris Sale will pay off in Game 3, and then the weight of the world will be on the Dodgers for Game 4," Rogers wrote.
"It'll end there. Then, they'll start to show their age while the lockout next season prevents them from managing their oft-injured pitchers properly this winter or in a normal spring training.”
That’s not just a call on this series. Rogers is also forecasting a much bigger drop-off for Los Angeles, saying the Dodgers won’t win another postseason series next October either.
For a club that has won the last two World Series, that would amount to a stunning collapse. Rogers even took the prediction a step further: “Adding insult to injury, River Ryan and Zyhir Hope star for the Tigers as the Dodgers' dynasty comes to an abrupt halt," Rogers added. "You asked for bold ... right?”
It’s a huge swing from Rogers, especially with one of the game’s best postseason arms on the mound for Los Angeles in Game 3.
In Other News...
Ronald Acua Jr. Reopened Braves Drama Before A Huge Game 3
Ronald Acua Jr. added a fresh layer of intrigue around the Braves on the eve of Game 3 of the NLDS, using a Spanish-language podcast appearance to share his thoughts on the coaching staff. The comments centered on someone who is no longer with the team, and while Acua and his co-host stopped short of naming the person, the discussion was pointed enough to spark immediate speculation.
For Atlanta, the timing is what makes it stick. With a huge postseason game coming, the remarks have pulled attention back toward a familiar off-field storyline, even though the exact target of Acuas criticism still has not been confirmed. It is the kind of sidelight that can follow a team into October, especially when the baseball itself is about to matter even more. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Had To Change Their NLDS Plan Around Ronald Acua Jr
Ronald Acua Jr. was supposed to be part of the Braves Game 3 NLDS formula in the outfield, but the plan shifted as the series moved on. Lingering knee soreness from a slide in a previous game pushed Atlanta to make a late adjustment, moving Acua to designated hitter and reshaping the rest of the lineup around it.
Sean Murphy was scratched and Lane Thomas was added in right field, while the Braves kept their catching duties aligned behind Chris Sale by leaning on Drake Baldwin. Murphy still remains in the mix as a pinch-hitting option, a reminder that even in October, one nagging issue can force a team to redraw its blueprint on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Braves-Dodgers Game 3 Just Took Two Unexpected Turns
The NL Division Series shifts to Atlanta with the stakes even again, and the broadcast booth is getting an unusual late change before first pitch. Joe Davis will not call Game 3 between the Dodgers and Braves because he lost his voice, so Kenny Albert is stepping in for the national telecast as the series heads to Tuesdays 6:00 ET matchup.
The on-field wrinkle is just as notable for a Braves team trying to seize control at home. Los Angeles is also altering its order, moving Shohei Ohtani into the fifth spot against Chris Sale, a move that adds another layer to a game already carrying plenty of pressure with the series knotted at 1-1. [Read more 🡒]