Dodgers Are Back In The NLCS With A New Playoff Question

In a historic display of dominance, the Dodgers head to the NLCS along with three other victorious road teams, a first in MLB postseason lore.

Wednesday’s postseason slate didn’t just clear the field down to five teams - it carved out a little MLB history along the way.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers advancing to the National League Championship Series, the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays also moving on, and the Cleveland Guardians extending their season in the American League Division Series, every winner on the day did it away from home. According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, it marked the first time in MLB postseason history that four road teams won on the same day.

The Guardians opened the night by rolling past the Chicago White Sox, 9-3, at Rate Field. That performance came on the heels of an offense that had been held to just three runs across its first two games at Progressive Field. Cleveland’s win kept the pressure on in the ALDS, and the club followed it with another victory to push the series to a Game 5.

In Atlanta, the Dodgers finished off the Braves with a 4-1 win at Truist Park. The big swing in that game came in the seventh inning, when Andy Pages delivered a two-run, go-ahead single with two outs to break things open.

The Rays then closed out the New York Yankees with a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium. Their clincher came after Anthony Volpe appeared to hit a game-tying, two-run homer, only for the play to be overturned because of fan interference.

The final road win of the day belonged to the Brewers, who eliminated the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. That result sets up the NLCS showdown with the Dodgers.

Dodgers vs. Brewers

Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 11, 5 p.m. PT, American Family Field, Fox, Fox Deportes, Fox One

Game 2: Monday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m. PT, American Family Field, Fox or FS1, Fox Deportes

Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 5 p.m. PT, Dodger Stadium, FS1, Fox Deportes, Fox One

Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m. PT, Dodger Stadium, FS1, Fox Deportes, Fox One

Game 5*: Friday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. PT, Dodger Stadium, FS1, Fox Deportes, Fox One

Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 18, 5 p.m. PT, American Family Field, FS1, Fox Deportes, Fox One

*if necessary

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The problem is the start times. Game 2 in Milwaukee lands at 2 p.m. PT on Monday, and a lot of the series sits squarely on the workweek calendar, including the games that could be played in Los Angeles. Even worse for local fans, those home dates are all slotted in the early evening, a reminder that the leagues prime-time priorities can leave West Coast supporters catching a postseason series at less-than-ideal hours. [Read more 🡒]