The National League Division Series has reached the point where Game 3 starts to feel like the whole thing.
Atlanta and Los Angeles split the first two games, which means the Braves not only dragged this matchup into a best-of-three race, they also grabbed home-field advantage along the way. Now the series heads to Truist Park on Tuesday night, with both clubs turning to the arms they trust most.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman put the stakes plainly: “We know it's two good teams going at it,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We know what's at stake on Tuesday. We need to get that win.”
History backs up the tension. In postseason play, teams that win Game 3 of a tied best-of-five series have gone on to take the series 48 times in 67 tries, a 71.6% clip.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, and the game will air on FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One.
The pitching matchup is the headline. Chris Sale gets the ball for Atlanta, and he’ll face the Dodgers for the first time since carving them up with a five-hit shutout on Aug.
- The 37-year-old was one of baseball’s best run preventers this season, finishing with MLB’s third-best ERA at 2.16.
He opened this postseason by holding the Phillies to three runs over 6 1/3 innings in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series, and Atlanta delayed his next start after he recorded the final four outs of Game 3 in that series.
On the other side, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is lined up for his 2026 postseason debut with Los Angeles trying to reclaim the series lead. The Dodgers had options early in the series, but they preferred the way the rotation would set up with Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell going in the first two games. Yamamoto now takes over for Game 3 after also dealing with Atlanta on Aug. 27, when he allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings in a 1-0 loss and was outpitched by Sale.
Atlanta’s lineup reflects what it saw the last time these clubs met. Drake Baldwin’s leadoff homer was the only run in that game against Yamamoto, and Baldwin, Matt Olson and Michael Harris II all figure to like seeing a right-hander. That’s especially notable because the Braves have mostly been facing lefties in October; four of their first five postseason games came against left-handed starters, with Aaron Nola the lone right-hander they’ve seen, and he lasted just 1 2/3 innings in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series.
The Braves are expected to go with this order: Drake Baldwin, Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies, Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Sean Murphy.
Los Angeles may have more moving parts. With Sale starting, the Dodgers figure to load up on right-handed bats and could even alter the usual shape of their lineup. They already went with Miguel Rojas at third base instead of Max Muncy against a lefty opener in Game 2, so Kiké Hernández could make his first start of the postseason at third, which would push Rojas to second.
The projected Dodgers order has Mookie Betts leading off, followed by Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, Andy Pages, Rojas and Kiké Hernández.
Atlanta should have its late-game weapons ready. After an off-day, Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez and Dylan Lee are all available out of the bullpen. Didier Fuentes and Ray Kerr are not, after both threw more than 40 pitches on Sunday.
The Dodgers’ relief corps should also be in decent shape after Game 2 forced the bullpen to cover the final 5 1/3 innings behind Snell. The off-day helps, though Roki Sasaki may be the one exception after throwing two innings on 36 pitches Sunday.
There are a few injury notes to keep in mind. Braves right-hander Bryce Elder, who had right knee surgery, and left-hander Martín Pérez, dealing with lower back discomfort, are unavailable in this series but could return if Atlanta reaches the NLCS.
For the Dodgers, Ohtani is managing right biceps and left knee issues, Freeman is dealing with a right knee issue, and World Series hero Will Klein, who has right elbow discomfort, has not pitched since July 31 even though he has faced hitters. Blake Treinen, who has right shoulder inflammation, is unlikely to pitch this postseason.
As for who’s swinging it well, Michael Harris II has been Atlanta’s most dangerous bat so far, with two three-hit games in five postseason contests and an 8-for-20 start overall. The Braves still need more from Acuña, who is 3-for-18 without an extra-base hit, and Olson, who is 3-for-19 with seven strikeouts.
Freeman has been one of the brighter spots for Los Angeles after a rough September, going 3-for-7 with a home run in the first two games. Pages and Tommy Edman, meanwhile, are still searching for their first hits of the postseason.
There’s also a milestone hanging over the dugout. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is one win away from 71 postseason victories, which would tie Tony La Russa for second all-time. Joe Torre remains the leader with 84.
One more note on Sale: this will be the first time he has faced the Dodgers in the postseason since coming out of the Red Sox bullpen to throw a perfect ninth inning and finish the 2018 World Series.
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 🡒]