The Dodgers find themselves in a precarious situation.
They really could blow this.
The Atlanta Braves entered their National League Division Series with a significant disadvantage, and after winning the first game, the Dodgers appeared to be in a strong position.
However, as the series shifts to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4, the Dodgers unexpectedly face serious challenges.
This could be serious trouble, perhaps even trouble that might jeopardize their chances at a dynasty.
The supposed advantage in pitching for the Dodgers has vanished.
And the idea that the Braves would be fatigued? Well, it seems to have been misplaced.
In a disappointing 3-2 loss on Sunday, the Dodgers squandered their advantages, leading to a tied series.
This isn’t just any matchup now; it’s a competitive series.
To make it to the NL Championship Series, the Dodgers will have to fight for it.
In Game 3, the Braves will send Chris Sale, a former Cy Young Award winner, to the mound. Notably, he pitched a shutout against them in August.
Then, in Game 4, the Dodgers will face Tyler Mahle, who has been outstanding since the Braves acquired him from the San Francisco Giants.
If a Game 5 is necessary, it will occur at Dodger Stadium, featuring Tarik Skubal for the Dodgers, while the Braves might use another mix of relievers. Skubal pitched impressively in Game 1, but the Braves’ bullpen effectively shut down the Dodgers in Game 2.
It’s curious how the Braves found a workable strategy in a series where they seemed outmatched just a day prior.
How did we get here?
The Braves’ manager, Walt Weiss, made a bold decision by pushing Sale’s start to Game 3 instead of using him in Game 2.
This strategic choice was risky, considering Sale hadn’t pitched on four days’ rest since April and only recently returned from a save opportunity against the Philadelphia Phillies.
However, the Braves were relying on their bullpen, which was perhaps overtaxed, to contend against the Dodgers. The Dodgers, frankly, hold some responsibility for this turn of events.
If hopes for a three-peat crumble over the next week, Game 2 will be the moment the Dodgers regret.
The Braves didn’t so much win this game, but the Dodgers lost it.
Blake Snell, one of their top pitchers, struggled significantly.
And then there was Shohei Ohtani in a crucial moment with runners on base, but he popped up.
In the fifth inning, despite having Mookie Betts draw a walk and Ohtani hitting a ground-ball single to advance him, the Dodgers failed to capitalize.
They left seven players stranded on base, finishing 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, scoring only due to a home run by Freddie Freeman and another from Max Muncy in the ninth inning.
The offense seems off-kilter—Ohtani doesn’t appear to be in his groove, and the team predominantly scores via home runs. In Game 1, it was homers that accounted for their five runs.
Now, the Dodgers will be looking to Yoshinobu Yamamoto to potentially turn the tide for them this postseason.
Last year, when they faced a similar situation against the Toronto Blue Jays, Yamamoto was pivotal, winning Game 6 and pitching in Game 7 as they ran low on pitchers.
On Tuesday at Truist Field, Yamamoto will face Sale, and how well he pitches could shape not just this series but also how the Dodgers will be remembered overall.
