The Los Angeles Dodgers are headed back to the National League Championship Series again.
With a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS on Wednesday in Atlanta, the Dodgers closed out the series and punched their ticket to the NLCS for the third straight year. They’ll face the winner of the Milwaukee Brewers-San Diego Padres NLDS, and the Dodgers already know what it looks like to run through Milwaukee after sweeping the Brewers in last year’s NLCS.
This one was tight from the start, with runs coming at a premium all night. Atlanta opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Michael Harris II singled to lead off the inning, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and came home on a wild pitch. That was the Braves’ only run.
The Dodgers answered in the top of the second. Shohei Ohtani worked a leadoff walk, swiped second, reached third on a throwing error and then scored when Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubon committed a fielding error.
After that, both pitching staffs settled things down. Tyler Glasnow ran into trouble in the fifth after walking two batters, and Alex Vesia took over and got Matt Olson to ground out and end the threat.
Atlanta put another runner in scoring position in the sixth when Ozzie Albies opened the inning with a double. Vesia gave way to Edgardo Henriquez after one out, and Henriquez finished off the frame by retiring the final two hitters.
The game finally tilted in the seventh. Teoscar Hernandez singled with one out, Josue De Paula pinch-hit and drew a walk, and Kyle Tucker’s walk loaded the bases. Andy Pages then delivered the big swing, lining a two-run single that gave Los Angeles its first lead of the night.
Dave Roberts didn't want to bench Andy Pages after Game 2 amid his playoff struggles:"I believe in him. I feel that for us to win the World Series this year, we're gonna need him to be an active part of our team."Safe to say Roberts' decision worked. pic.twitter.com/5eZfBAmVPh
The Braves had one last push in the bottom of the seventh after Harris doubled with two outs, but Henriquez got Ronald Acuna Jr. to ground out and keep the Dodgers in front, 3-1.
Tanner Scott handled the eighth and was sharp, mowing through Atlanta’s 3-4-5 hitters in order.
Tanner Scott had a dominant bottom of the eighth inning to retire the Braves' 3-4-5 hitters.He punctuated it with this painted fastball that took the Braves' final ABS challenge.The Dodgers are three outs away from their third straight NLCS. pic.twitter.com/eEgFSYSEVs
Max Muncy added insurance in the ninth with a home run, his 19th postseason blast, to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Max Muncy gave the Dodgers an insurance run.He crushed a home run - the 19th of his postseason career - and Edwin Diaz will now have a three-run lead to protect in the 9th inning.Muncy is so, so good. pic.twitter.com/97lysp3jMR
Edwin Diaz took it from there and finished off the save, sending Los Angeles on to the NLCS.
The championship series begins Sunday, Oct. 11.
If Milwaukee wins its NLDS, Game 1 will be in Milwaukee. If San Diego advances, the opener will be in Los Angeles.
In Other News...
Braves Just Made A Desperate Lineup Bet In A Must Win Game
Michael Harris II is at the top of the Braves lineup for an upcoming playoff game against the Dodgers, a clear sign Atlanta is leaning into a different look as it tries to keep its season moving. Ronald Acua Jr. is back in right field, giving the Braves their usual jolt in the outfield and another piece of star power in a matchup where every tweak matters.
Los Angeles is answering with its own changes, putting Mookie Betts back in the leadoff spot and sliding Shohei Ohtani into cleanup. The game will also have a different voice on the call, with Brandon Gaudin filling in for Joe Davis, but the bigger focus is on how both clubs have shuffled their cards for a postseason game that already feels loaded with pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Are Suddenly One Loss From A Brutal Dodgers Exit
The Braves had chances early, but they could not cash in against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and that left them chasing the game for most of the night in a 3-1 loss to the Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. Chris Sale gave Atlanta five innings and allowed three runs, but the combination of missed opportunities and a dominant outing from Yamamoto, who struck out 10 over seven innings, tilted the series back in Los Angeles favor.
Now Atlanta heads into Game 4 facing elimination, with Tyler Mahle expected to take the ball as the margin for error disappears. The Braves have already put themselves in a difficult spot by dropping behind 2-1, and the next game will ask them to do what they have not done enough of so far in the series: turn early traffic on the bases into the kind of breakthrough inning that can keep their postseason alive. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Have Exposed A Costly Dodgers NLDS Problem
Miguel Rojas night in Game 3 of the NLDS ended early, and it added another layer of uncertainty to a Dodgers lineup already trying to keep pace with the Braves. Los Angeles said the veteran infielder was taken out because of low back pain after fouling a pitch in the eighth inning, with the issue apparently dating back to an earlier play when he was fielding a ground ball in the fifth.
For Atlanta, any hit to the Dodgers infield depth is the kind of opening a postseason opponent watches closely. Rojas has long been valued for the steadiness he brings on defense and the flexibility he gives Los Angeles, so the bigger concern now is not just whether he can finish the series, but whether the Dodgers have to rethink how they manage the rest of their postseason roster if the back issue lingers. [Read more 🡒]