We’re back in the National League today after spending yesterday watching the two AL matchups. The White Sox are one win away from the ALCS one year after losing 100 games. The Rays handled business themselves, beating their division-rivals and league-wide hated Yankees and now find themselves on the cusp of the next round as well. Both series take a beat today so we’ll have to wait and find out what happens next until tomorrow.
As for today, we got a one quality matchup on the mound with a couple
aces going in Atlanta. Runs may be scarce in that contest. Meanwhile back in California it’s a couple mid-rotation pieces so all the runs are coming tonight.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves (6:00 PM EDT)
The Dodgers won the first game of the series before dropping the second game on Sunday night. The reigning champions feel more vulnerable than they have over the past couple of years and that happens to older teams. Still, their the reigning champions so there’s no way you can count them out. Especially when the series is tied. If I’m Atlanta though, you did what you needed to do by stealing a win in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers are turning to Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto (14-9, 2.53 ERA) for the first time this October. The right-hander was nearly untouchable in the postseason last year and LA is hoping for more of the same this go around. If he continues to be that dominant today then the Dodgers could be one win away from the NLCS by the end of the day.
Atlanta meanwhile has their ace up their sleeve as lefty Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16 ERA) gets the call for the must-win Game 3. In most other years Sale would be on his way to a Cy Young Award with those kind of stats, but unfortunately for him the Brewers have someone who is just a little better. Still, if you’re Atlanta you have to feel good about your chances with your ace on the hill. If they can score a couple runs off Yamamoto they could take tonight’s contest and set themselves up for a clinching scenario in front of the home crowd tomorrow.
Here’s how Los Angeles will line up today:
And here’s Atlanta’s lineup:
Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres (9:30 PM EDT)
This series has been fantastic. The Brewers came away with the win in Game 1 thanks to some controversy involving a roof, and then followed that up with a walk-off win against arguably the best closer in the sport. That’s put the #1 seed just one win away from the NLCS and a rematch with the Dodgers for a trip to the World Series. And at this point it’s starting to feel as though they’re the only ones standing between the Dodgers and a third straight championhip.
They’ll have mid-season trade acquisition Dustin May (7-9, 4.70 ERA) on the bump for them tonight. May was solid during the first half with the Cardinals before his trade to Milwaukee to reinforce the middle of their rotation. While he took the ball every turn, his stats with Milwaukee have fallen off. He’s been used in shorter bursts with the Brewers so it wouldn’t be shocking to see a quick hook for the right-hander if he’s struggling early.
The Padres meanwhile will ask Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA) to help them stay alive in these playoffs. The 33-year-old missed the majority of the year with an elbow strain that many thought would require season-ending surgery. He’s successfully avoided that and provided the Friars with a boost in their rotation. Now they’ll be asking the world of him as they face the prospect of seeing their season end if they can’t pull out the win tonight in front of their home town crowd. No pressure.
So how do you guys think today goes? Do the Brewers finish the sweep and punch their ticket to the NLCS? Can the Dodgers bounce back and take Game 3? Some exciting baseball tonight!
