NLDS Preview: Game Three Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves

Time: 5:07 PM PT

Venue: SunTrust Park

Dodgers Lead Series 2-0

How are the Dodgers Doing?

Dominant pitching and the power of the home run ball have carried the Dodgers through the first two games of the series. They have outscored the Braves 9-0, with Los Angeles hitting five home runs. Starting pitchers Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershaw allowed a total of six hits over 15 combined innings for the Dodgers.

Why is this Game Important?

While the Dodgers depended on the longball in the first two games of the series, their may rely on new methods of scoring runs as they head to Atlanta. Whereas Dodger Stadium ranked 11th in home run factor in 2018, SunTrust Park ranked 26th in the league.

The Dodgers won three out of four games at SunTrust Park in 2018, outscoring the Braves 18-8. They hit four home runs that series in late July.

Pitching Matchup

Walker Buehler (8-5, 2.62 ERA) vs Sean Newcomb (12-9, 3.90 ERA)

With a chance to advance to the NLCS, the rookie Walker Buehler will take the hill for Los Angeles. Surprisingly enough, this is not even the biggest game for Buehler this week. On October 1, Buehler tossed 6.2 shutout innings against the Rockies in Game 163 of the year, leading the Dodgers to their sixth consecutive NL West title.

Sean Newcomb pitches for Atlanta, hoping to extend the series. Newcomb defeated the Dodgers at SunTrust Park, falling one strike away from throwing a no-hitter. With a 2-2 count with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Newcomb allowed a base hit to Chris Taylor.

Newcomb pitched in Game 1 of the series, throwing two shutout innings out of the bullpen.

Matchup of the Day

Chris Taylor vs Sean Newcomb

Despite ranking second on the team with 136 hits in the regular season, Chris Taylor does not have an at-bat in the series. He should find his way to the plate on Sunday with Sean Newcomb pitching for Atlanta. Along with breaking up Newcomb’s no-hitter, Taylor is batting .417 with a home run in his career against the Braves’ southpaw.

Vegas Odds

FiveThirtyEight

Los Angeles: 65% chance of winning

Atlanta: 35% chance of winning

Fun Fact

Only ten times in MLB history has a team come back from down 0-2 in a best-of-five series. The last being the 2017 ALDS when the New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians