The Braves tried the bullpen route again in Game 1 of the NLDS, and for a while it looked like they might have found the same magic that carried them past the Phillies.
Dylan Dodd gave Atlanta three scoreless innings against the Dodgers, just as Ray Kerr had delivered 3 1/3 shutout frames in the decisive Wild Card game against Philadelphia. That effort helped the Braves win 6-2 and move on, and it gave manager Walt Weiss reason to trust the same formula again in Los Angeles.
This time, though, the Dodgers answered with force.
Tarik Skubal was sharp from the start, working six innings and allowing only one run. The Braves’ lone early breakthrough came on Sean Murphy’s solo homer in the middle of the sixth, after Teoscar Hernández had already put LA ahead with a two-run blast in the fourth.
Murphy’s homer cut the deficit to one, but the Dodgers quickly slammed the door. Kyle Tucker followed with a two-run shot with a runner aboard, pushing the lead to 4-1. Then Max Muncy added a two-out solo homer of his own.
That was the kind of swing that reminded everyone what October power looks like. The Dodgers even celebrated Muncy’s blast by noting, “That's 17 postseason homers from Max! pic.twitter.com/n1yMnDt5Tv”
Atlanta still had one last push left. Ozzie Albies went deep for a two-run homer off Tanner Scott to trim the margin to two with the Braves down to their final three outs. Evan Phillips came in to finish it, walked a batter, and got the final out without any further damage.
Weiss had already said Chris Sale would not start Game 2 after serving as a hero in the Braves’ Wild Card Game 3 win, and Atlanta may be looking at another bullpen game. After what happened in Game 1, that plan deserves a hard second look.
Blake Snell is next up for the Dodgers. Dave Roberts drew some complaints from fans by putting Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 3, but the move made sense: stack the lefties against a Braves lineup that has struggled against them and try to build a commanding lead before the series shifts to Atlanta. Yamamoto may even be able to finish the series on Tuesday.
There had been questions about the Dodgers’ offense entering October after a shaky regular season. Game 1 didn’t answer them quietly. It answered them with homers.
In Other News...
Miguel Rojas Just Put The Dodgers In An Awkward Spot
Miguel Rojas has put himself and the Dodgers in a familiar late-season holding pattern, only this one comes with an offseason wrinkle. The veteran infielder entered the year thinking it could be his final one, but he has since started to rethink that timeline as he weighs whether he still has the skill and endurance to keep playing. For a Dodgers club that always has to balance present needs with future roster planning, even a quiet change of heart can matter.
Rojas has also made it clear he would prefer to stay in Los Angeles if he does decide to continue, which adds another layer to a decision the front office cannot fully control. As an unrestricted free agent, he will have to sort out whether retirement is still the right path, and his answer could shape how the Dodgers approach infield depth and other offseason priorities. It is the sort of personal crossroads that can linger well past the end of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Double Down On A Risky NLDS Plan Against Atlanta
Blake Snell getting the ball for Game 2 of the NLDS is another clear sign the Dodgers are leaning into a very specific postseason plan against Atlanta. Dave Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior have both pointed to the Braves struggles against left-handed pitching, and that matchup-driven approach puts Los Angeles in position to attack with a rotation built around lefties as the series develops.
Snells own return from injury has given the Dodgers a useful playoff option at the exact time they need one, especially after he pitched effectively in limited innings this season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is also part of the conversation for later in the series, which gives Los Angeles a chance to keep pressing that advantage, even if it means sticking with a fairly risky blueprint once the games start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Roberts Sends Dodgers Fans A Clear Message On Tanner Scott
Tanner Scotts rough ninth inning in Game 1 of the National League Division Series could have invited a bigger reaction, but Dave Roberts moved quickly to keep the larger picture intact. The Dodgers manager pointed out that Scott was working in a non-save situation with a four-run lead, and said the decision to move on was tied more to the upcoming hitters than to the inning itself. For a bullpen built around matchups, that distinction matters, especially in October.
Roberts also had plenty of regular-season production to lean on with Scott, who posted a 2.69 ERA and 25 saves before landing on the Dodgers NLDS roster as one of three left-handed relievers. So while the home run will get attention, the teams view of Scott appears unchanged for now, with his role still carrying weight in a postseason bullpen where every lefty can become a key lever late in games. [Read more 🡒]