Tuesday’s NLDS Game 3 brings a pitching matchup that stands out even in October: Chris Sale for the Atlanta Braves against Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That pairing is historic. MLB.com’s Sarah Langs noted on Bluesky that it’s the first matchup of its kind in 88 years.
Atlanta had a chance to use Sale in Game 2 on Sunday, but instead went with 32-year-old left-hander Ray Kerr. The Braves still came away with a 3-2 win over Los Angeles to level the series at 1-1. Sale had already worked twice in Atlanta’s NL Wild Card series win over the Philadelphia Phillies, which helped explain the club’s decision to hold him back.
Sale is coming off another massive 2026 season and is chasing his second World Series ring. The 10-time All-Star was part of the Boston Red Sox team that won the championship in 2018, and he finished off the series-clinching Game 5 against the Dodgers that year.
Los Angeles also passed on its ace for Sunday’s game, choosing Blake Snell instead of Yamamoto. The 28-year-old Japanese right-hander is aiming for his third straight World Series title since debuting in MLB in 2024.
Yamamoto matched Sale’s 14-9 record in the 2026 regular season and posted a 2.53 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 182 strikeouts across 185 innings in 28 starts.
He was just as sharp in the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, going 3-0 with a 1.02 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings. Yamamoto started and won Games 2 and 6 against Toronto, then came back to throw 2 2/3 shutout innings in Game 7 the day after Game 6.
In Other News...
Dodgers Face A Sudden Game 3 Booth Absence Fans Will Notice
Joe Davis will be missing from the FOX Sports booth for Game 3 of the NLDS after losing his voice, a noticeable shift for Dodgers fans used to hearing him on the call. Kenny Albert will handle play-by-play for the game, stepping into a spot that has belonged to Davis for years as the voice of Dodgers broadcasts since 2016 and FOXs lead postseason announcer since 2022.
The absence is being treated as day-to-day, so it is not expected to be a long-term issue, but it still leaves a brief interruption in a postseason routine that has become familiar on both the local and national stages. For a Dodgers team deep into October, even a broadcast change stands out, especially when it comes during a series where every detail feels amplified. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Have Exposed A Costly Dodgers NLDS Problem
Miguel Rojas became another late-game concern for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS, leaving with low back pain after fouling a pitch in the eighth inning. The club confirmed the injury on its official social media, and the issue came after Rojas had already hurt his back earlier in the game while fielding a ground ball in the fifth inning.
For a Dodgers team trying to keep its October run on track, the timing could hardly be worse. Rojas has been part of the infield stability theyve leaned on, and if the back issue keeps him out any longer, Los Angeles may have to make a postseason roster move before the series moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Juan Soto Just Raised The Stakes For Dodgers Rookie Josue De Paula
Josue De Paula has moved from promising September call-up to a genuine postseason name to know for the Dodgers, earning a spot on the NLDS roster after impressing in 11 games. The top prospect has already shown why the organization is so high on him, bringing offensive upside and the kind of work ethic that tends to travel well once the games tighten in October.
Juan Sotos public praise only adds to the intrigue around De Paula, especially for a Dodgers club always balancing upside with reliability this time of year. The bat has given De Paula a real chance to matter, but his defense in the outfield remains the part of his game under the brightest scrutiny now that every inning carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]