Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave the Dodgers exactly the kind of October start they were banking on, and Los Angeles backed him with just enough power to take a 3-1 win over the Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS.
Dave Roberts caught plenty of criticism for lining Yamamoto up for this game instead of earlier in the series, but the logic behind it was clear. Atlanta had been worse against left-handed pitching during the regular season, and that edge had become even more obvious over the final six weeks. The plan was for Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell to put the Dodgers in position at home, then let Yamamoto - who was also better on the road - handle the clincher in Game 3.
That script changed when Snell stumbled and the series shifted to Atlanta tied 1-1. Suddenly, Yamamoto against Chris Sale became the headliner, with Walt Weiss choosing to hold Sale back after using him in Game 1 of the Wild Card and then again to close out Game 3.
Yamamoto answered with one of his best postseason outings yet. Over seven innings, he allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out 10 Braves.
His only real jam came in the fifth, when he opened the inning by giving up consecutive singles, then loaded the bases with no outs. Atlanta got its lone run on an RBI groundout, but Yamamoto escaped by getting Ronald Acuña Jr. to roll into a slow infield tapper.
The Dodgers’ offense did its damage with the long ball. Kiké Hernández launched a two-run homer, and Freddie Freeman added a solo shot, his second of the series, to supply all three Los Angeles runs. Hernández’s blast fit the October version of himself Dodgers fans know well, and it was the kind of swing that put the game in their control.
Edwin Díaz made things a little uneasy in the ninth after giving up a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies, who advanced to third on a groundout, but Díaz settled in and left the score where it stood.
Sale was supposed to be Atlanta’s best answer in this one, the arm the Braves were counting on to swing the series back in their favor. Instead, Yamamoto stole the spotlight, and the Dodgers’ power was enough to make it stand up.
After the disappointment of Game 2, there were plenty of reasons to wonder whether Los Angeles’ three-peat push had lost steam. This night was a reminder that the Dodgers still have plenty left.
In Other News...
Dodgers Face A Sudden Game 3 Booth Absence Fans Will Notice
Joe Davis will be out of FOX Sports booth for Game 3 of the NLDS after losing his voice, a sudden change that Dodgers fans will notice right away. Davis has been the clubs play-by-play voice since 2016 and has also been FOX Sports lead postseason announcer since 2022, so his absence is a notable one in a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Kenny Albert is set to handle play-by-play for the game, while Davis is considered day-to-day. For a playoff broadcast, that kind of late shift can be jarring for viewers who are used to Davis setting the tone, and it leaves open the question of whether he will be able to return before the series moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Buehler Just Became A Bigger Padres Postseason Story
Clayton Kershaw was on Peacock as the in-game reporter for Game 1 of the National League wild-card series between the Padres and Cubs, and the conversation naturally drifted to Walker Buehler. The former Dodgers teammates have plenty of history, and Kershaw had nothing but praise for Buehlers competitiveness and the way he pitched during the season after joining San Diego in 2024.
For Dodgers fans, the timing matters because Buehler is currently on the Paternity List but is expected back for the National League Division Series. That puts another familiar name into the heart of a postseason run with real stakes for the Padres, and it also adds another layer to a rivalry that keeps finding new angles long after the regular season ends. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers May Be Rethinking One Crucial NLDS Move Against Chris Sale
Chris Sale has already forced the Dodgers into a little lineup soul-searching in the National League Division Series. With Los Angeles leaning heavily on home runs for its offense and several regulars scuffling at the plate, Dave Roberts acknowledged the club may need to shuffle things around to better match up with Atlantas ace left-hander. Enrique Hernandez, Miguel Rojas and Shohei Ohtanis spot in the order are all part of the conversation as the Dodgers look for a better feel against a pitcher who can change the whole tone of a series.
For a team built to punish mistakes, the challenge now is creating enough pressure when the long ball is not there. Roberts has plenty of moving parts, but the bigger question is whether the Dodgers can find the right combination to stop letting Sale dictate the game from the first inning on. The decisions around the lineup may look small on paper, yet in a tight October series they can decide whether Los Angeles is reacting or finally getting ahead of the matchup. [Read more 🡒]