TORONTO FC (1) – ATLANTA UNITED FC (0) POST MATCH SUMMARY

SCORING SUMMARY

TFC – Pablo Piatti 89’ (Richie Laryea)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

TFC – Omar Gonzalez 42’ (caution)

ATL – Miles Robinson 81’ (caution)

RECORDS

TORONTO FC:                         12-2-5   41 PTS.

ATLANTA UNITED FC:               5-10-4   19 PTS.

LINE-UPS

TORONTO FC – Quentin Westberg; Auro Jr., Omar Gonzalez, Laurent Ciman, Tony Gallacher (Richie Laryea HT’); Jonathan Osorio (C) (Michael Bradley 20’), Marky Delgado (Liam Fraser 78’), Pablo Piatti, Tsubasa Endoh (Nick DeLeon 66’), Alejandro Pozuelo, Patrick Mullins (Jayden Nelson 66’)

Substitutes Not Used: Kevin Silva, Erickson Gallardo, Ralph Priso, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty

ATLANTA UNITED FC – Brad Guzan; Miles Robinson, Fernando Meza, Anton Walkes, George Bello; Eric Remedi (Matheus Rossetto 75’), Emerson Hyndman (Marcelino Moreno HT’), Jurgen Damm (Erick Torres 66’), Mohammed Adams, Jake Mulraney (Ezequiel Barco HT’), Jon Gallagher (Brooks Lennon 66’)

Substitutes Not Used: Alec Kann, Laurence Wyke, Adam Jahn, Jeff Larentowicz

GREG VANNEY – HEAD COACH, TORONTO FC

Atlanta was a tough nut to crack. Was this just the team sticking to it?

“That was it. It was just sticking with it. I thought we had some good looks, especially in the first half, that we weren’t able to break through. Obviously, Q has to make a great save off the Torres header. Aside from that I didn’t really feel like we were too vulnerable. So, I felt like defensively we were okay. It was just a matter of figuring out the best way through them. In the first half, we were pushing a lot of numbers high and we were kind of creating a wall for ourselves and it was at times difficult for us to get through. They weren’t afraid at times to go man on man. Obviously, with our current state of our group, missing Ayo and Jozy, we had Pat trying to work and then we’re trying to work off of Pat a little bit. So, we were trying different things during the course of the game to create that window of opportunity to try to win it. We went with a lot of different looks, a lot of different shapes to try to unbalance them. In the end, we wanted to get Richie out wide in the second half. So, we try to slide Nick in and drop Liam underneath Richie so Richie could take up some high positions.  And can try to get him one on one. And Richie does what he does gets just enough space on this one to put something across the goal. And you know we don’t have the biggest guys in the box, but the littlest guy in the box managed to get his head on one and re directed beautifully to the back post.  So, you know five games in sixteen days you win them anyway you can and now we regroup, we get a couple days a home, we get a couple days of training and then another big game next go around against Philadelphia. So really proud again of the effort. It’s been an incredible five game series by our group and everybody stepping up and contributing in many different ways. So proud of the guys.”

Can you talk about Richie Laryea evolving into one of the best outside backs in the league?

“Yeah he is an incredible attacking right back. His defending has gotten a lot better just through the experiences. He’s concentrated on it, but he’s an incredible attacking right back. Obviously, his ability to unbalance defenders in the one on one situations. He’s been working on and getting better at combining with players in twos and threes on the outside so it’s at times he’s able to help us unbalance in combination play. But when we’re able to get him isolated one on one, it’s so difficult for full backs and or wingers who are having to defend him in those situations, because he’s so good, and he usually has the opportunity to really face them up and get himself set up to take them on one on one. He’s just so quick in his first step. That’s the reason why you see a similar version of it in Alphonso Davies, who is kind of a wide player or winger. When those guys get added into the attack as an extra number facing forward a lot of times, they are able to face up. If you have a fullback who can beat people on the dribble it’s like gold. So, Ritchie’s done that for us to the tune of a number of assists and again some goals this year and continues to do it. Our goal today was to get Richie on for the second half with some legs and some freshness, to be able to impact the game and it worked out for us today, and he did what he does.”

What did it mean to get Michael back on the field? Does his experience help him get right back into things?

“I think experience helps when you’ve played as much as he has been in the trenches. You know what it’s like and you have that muscle memory. The second part is he works incredibly hard every single day to get his body into peak performance and fitness. He’s worked really hard through this stretch to keep his fitness level high, but also do every little thing that he can to be ready when the time came.  I think I said it before, but he probably could have rushed back maybe a game earlier. But it took a little extra time to continue to work and to train and get sessions under his belt and he came back. I thought he looked sharp. He communicates so well within our team, telling guys when to go and to stay on the press. Defensively he’s always aware of how to manipulate things in space on the field. And obviously his composure on the ball brings us some composure to our group in general, so it was nice. He came in and he settled things down.”

MICHAEL BRADLEY – MIDFIELDER, TORONTO FC

Good teams find ways to win, you’ve seen your time do just that. Are you liking what you see out there?

“I am. Very much so. I think the mentality of our group continues to shine through in big ways. We have a group that is tried and tested and has been through a lot together. The group constantly evolves, there’s always new faces and when you have new guys that come in you try to put your arms around them right away and welcome them and make them feel at home but at the same time you make sure they understand the standards that have been put in place around here and to make sure that every single guy understands what it means to play for this club and be a part of this group. There’s examples of guys who come here and it’s not so easy for them in that regard and you have others who when they show up, they look around, they see it’s a special club and it’s a great group to be a part of it. We got to keep going, nobody is handing out any awards after tonight, we have to keep going and keep pushing and understand that the biggest games are still to come and if we can continue to get better and continue to get sharper and combine all that with our mentality, we’ll be in a good spot.”

Great goal tonight, you’ve seen Richie over the past couple seasons can you talk about his growth?

“Richie is in terms of young outside back in this league, it’s hard to think that you’re putting anybody ahead of him. I’ve seen firsthand the way that he’s taken an opportunity to come back to Toronto and work every single day, work to try and improve, work to show Greg and the coaches that he could be a guy who can be trusted in big moments as an outside back. He’s such a great teammate, he’s such a great player, he’s such an important guy on our team because his ability to connect with so many different groups of guys, he comes with a smile every single day but he’s got an edge to how he plays, how he trains, if he can continue to improve I think the ceiling for him is  still pretty far away. We love having him with us, we’re going to continue to push him and to encourage him but certainly his ability in the attacking part of the field to put defenders on the wrong foot, to go by guys, to create chances, that part is great.”

Wanted to ask about Jonathan Osorio and the job he did as captain while you were sidelined…

“I think both Oso and Marky deserve big credit in this last stretch for the way they both tweaked a little bit of the players that they naturally are to make sure that the team was successful. They understood that in a period where I wasn’t going to be on the field, that they both had to understand even a little bit more the importance of balance in a team, they had to really find a good way to work together and play together and cover for each other, to protect the defence and I think they did an incredible job, both of them. It’s easy in some moments to look at the guys who score or guys who make important plays in the attacking end and we know how important those guys are as well. But it’s also important for people on the outside to understand in this period how good, how consistent and how important Marky and Oso have been for the group. I’m proud of them both, it doesn’t surprise me one bit, I see firsthand every single day how good they are. I love playing with both of them. I think the three of us have an incredible relationship in terms of how we play together and how we understand each other so that parts great. I think for Oso to have an extended chance as captain, that part is special because he’s a Toronto boy. He understands more than anybody what it means to represent this club, to wear that flag around his arm, he understands who he’s playing for, what he’s representing and I know how much it means to him, so I think for anybody you have to appreciate that.”

-TORONTO FOOTBALL CLUB-

ATLANTA BRAVES (35-25, 8-3 in Postseason)
vs.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (43-17, 8-3 in Postseason)
RH Ian Anderson (2-0, 0.00) vs. RH Dustin May (1-0, 1.35)
NL Championship Series Game 7 • Series tied 3-3
October 18, 2020 • 8:15 p.m. • Globe Life Field • Arlington, TX • FOX/FS1

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Dodgers
continue their best-of-seven National League
Championship Series tonight with their seventh meeting
of the season…The 2020 NLCS marks the fourth
postseason series between the two clubs.
• Atlanta and Los Angeles did not play during the
regular season, and last met in 2019…The Braves
went 2-4 in six games against the Dodgers last
season, getting swept at Dodger Stadium and
winning two-of-three in Atlanta.
• The Braves’ series win against the Dodgers last
season was their first since also taking two-of-three
from Los Angeles in 2015…In 36 games between
the clubs since the start of 2016, including the
postseason, Atlanta is 12-24 (.333) vs. Los Angeles.
• The Braves and Dodgers have met three times
in postseason play, all of which have come in the
Division Series…Atlanta swept Los Angeles in the
1996 NLDS, while Los Angeles has won each of the
last two series, in 2013 and 2018, 3-1.
• RHP Ian Anderson pitched Game 2 of this
series and held the Dodgers scoreless over 4.0
innings…The 6-foot-3, 170-pound rookie from
Niskayuna, NY has yet to allow a run in three
starts this postseason, and is one of just two pitchers
in baseball history to open their postseason career
with three consecutive scoreless starts of at least
4.0 innings, joining Hall-of-Famer Christy
Mathewson.
• RHP Dustin May makes his third start and seventh
career appearance in the postseason…The 6-foot6, 180-pound native of Justin, TX, started Game 5 against Atlanta just two days ago and allowed three
hits and two runs, one earned, over 2.0 innings…
He walked a pair and struck out three.
SERIES INFO: Atlanta beat Los Angeles, 5-1, in
Game 1 of this series on Monday night, before an 8-7
win on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
• The Braves have previously gone 2-0 in a
postseason series 14 times in franchise history, and
are 12-2 (.857) in these sets…They have never lost
a Championship Series when taking a 2-0 lead.
• Just once have the Braves took a 2-0 lead in the
NLCS and played a Game 7…Atlanta was up 2-0
over Pittsburgh in 1992 and eventually won in
seven games…The Braves swept Cincinnati in
1995, and went up 2-0 over the Mets in 1999
before winning in six.
• Atlanta took a 3-1 series lead with Thursday night’s
win, and had a 3-1 lead in a playoff series for the
fifth time in franchise history…The Braves had
such a lead in the 1958 World Series, 1992 NLCS,
1995 World Series and 1999 NLCS…They would
win three of those four series.
• The Dodgers had never come back from a 3-1
series deficit to force a Game 7 prior to this series.
GAME 7: The Braves are set to play their seventh Game
7 of a playoff round today, and they are 4-2 (.667) in
these games…The Braves won the last Game 7 they played,
beating the Cardinals, 15-0, in the 1996 NLCS.
• The Braves have never lost a Game 7 in the NLCS,
going 3-0 with wins over Pittsburgh (1991 & 1992)
and St. Louis (1996).
• The Dodgers have played nine Game 7s in franchise
history, and are 4-5 (.444) in these games…They, too,
have never lost Game 7 of an NLCS, beating the
Mets in 1988 and Brewers in 2018.
CLINCH GAME: Atlanta tonight has a third chance
to clinch the series after taking a 3-1 lead Thursday
night…The Braves are 16-21 (.432) in these games in
franchise history.
• The Braves clinched in their first opportunity to do
so in both the Wild Card Series versus Cincinnati
and the NLDS vs. Miami.
• Prior to this postseason, Atlanta had gone 0-7 in
clinch games since 2001, including 0-2 last season
against St. Louis…The Braves are now 2-9 in their
last 11 clinch games.
• The Braves have been outscored 62-20 (-42) in the
nine games they have lost, and have led for a total
of 10 innings over these nine contests.
YOUNG STARTERS: Per Elias, tonight’s Game 7 is
the first winner-take-all game in history in which both
starting pitchers will be rookies…Atlanta’s Ian Anderson
has made just six career starts in the regular season, and
is the first Braves rookie to ever start a deciding game.
• Anderson starts tonight at 22 years, 169 days old,
and is the sixth youngest pitcher in history to start
a winner-take-all playoff game.
• He is the youngest to do so since Cleveland’s Jaret
Wright started Game 7 of the 1997 World Series at
21 years, 301 days.
• Bret Saberhagen (1985 World Series & ALCS),
Fernando Valenzuela (1981 NLCS), Marty Bystrom
(1980 NLCS) and Don Gullett (1972 NLCS) are
the only other pitchers younger than Anderson to
start a winner-take-all playoff game.
FREDDIE FREEMAN: Went 1-for-4 last night and
has hits in a postseason career-best seven straight games,
dating to Game 3 of the Division Series…He has hit
.423/.500/.769 (11-for-26) in this stretch…It is the
longest postseason hitting streak by a Braves player since
Rafael Furcal and Andruw Jones had nine-game streaks
that lasted into the 2005 postseason.
• Marquis Grissom holds the franchise record, hitting
in 15 straight postseason games, in a stretch that
spans the 1995 and 1996 seasons.
• Freeman has 11 total hits in this seven-game
stretch…His only other hit this postseason was a
walk-off single in the 13th inning of Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

48 Ian Anderson

RHP • 6-3 • 170 • 22 yrs
2020 Record: 3-2, 1.95 ERA • 2019 Record (MiLB): 8-7, 3.38 ERA
2020 Postseason: 2-0, 0.00 ERA • Career Postseason: 2-0, 0.00 ERA
vs. RHB: .200 (12-60), 1 HR • vs. LHB: .145 (9-62), 0 HR
Game 7 Starting Pitcher
Today’s Game
• Makes his fourth career playoff start, and just the 10th start of his major league
career.
• With his start in the Wild Card Game, became the first pitcher in franchise
history to start in the postseason despite making no more than six career
regular season appearances.
• Anderson was the first pitcher in baseball to make a postseason start with no
more than six career regular season games since Cleveland’s Ryan Merritt in
Game 5 of the 2016 ALCS vs. Toronto…Merritt held the Blue Jays to two hits
over 4.1 scoreless innings despite pitching in just four major league games and
making one start prior to the playoffs.
• Starts Game 7 tonight, and is the first Braves rookie to ever start a winner-take-all
playoff game.
• Anderson starts tonight at 22 years, 169 days old, and is the sixth youngest
pitcher in history to start a winner-take-all playoff game.
• He is the youngest to do so since Cleveland’s Jaret Wright started Game 7 of
the 1997 World Series at 21 years, 301 days.
• Bret Saberhagen (1985 World Series & ALCS), Fernando Valenzuela (1981
NLCS), Marty Bystrom (1980 NLCS) and Don Gullett (1972 NLCS) are
the only other pitchers younger than Anderson to start a winner-take-all
playoff game.
• Started Game 2 of this NLCS and held the Dodgers scoreless over 4.0 innings…
Allowed one hit and five walks and struck out five.
• Each of his three starts this postseason have been scoreless, and he is the first
pitcher in franchise history to make three straight playoff starts and not allow
a run…Anderson is one of just two pitchers in baseball history to open their
postseason career with three consecutive scoreless starts of at least 4.0 innings,
joining Hall-of-Famer Christy Mathewson…Mathewson pitched shutouts
in Game 1, Game 3 and Game 5 of the 1905 World Series in his first three
playoff starts.
• Walked a career-most five batters, doing so in just 4.0 innings in the start…
Became the second pitcher in playoff history to walk at least five batters in
fewer than 5.0 innings and not allow a run…Cleveland’s Dennis Martinez
allowed four hits and five walks over 4.2 scoreless in Game 6 of the 1995
World Series versus Atlanta, which the Braves ultimately won to clinch the title.
• Made his second career postseason start in Game 2 of the NLDS and held Miami
to just three hits and one walk over 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out eight.
• Blanked Cincinnati in his playoff debut, and is just the third pitcher in franchise
history with back-to-back scoreless starts in the postseason…Steve Avery did
so in Games 2 and 6 of the 1991 NLCS at Pittsburgh, and Lew Burdette did
so in Games 5 and 7 of the 1957 World Series vs. New York.
• Anderson is the first pitcher in franchise history with multiple scoreless
postseason starts in which he allowed no more than three hits and struck out
at least eight after doing so in each of his first two postseason appearances…
He is just the eighth pitcher in history with two such playoff starts, joining
Trevor Bauer, Kevin Brown, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Cliff Lee, Pedro
Martinez and Justin Verlander…No pitcher has three such starts in the playoffs.
2020 Recap
• Made six starts during his rookie campaign and went 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA (7
ER/32.1 IP) and 41 strikeouts.
• Entered 2020 ranked by MLB.com as Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, and as the Braves’ No. 3 prospect overall…He is rated as the No. 42 prospect in baseball.
• His 41 strikeouts are the most by a Braves pitcher through their first six
appearances in the live-ball era, passing Mike Minor who had 36.
• Since the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, just one other starter opened their
career with six starts and a lower ERA than Anderson’s 1.95 mark…David
Hale pitched to a 1.83 ERA over six starts between 2013-14.
• Beat the Yankees in his debut, August 26, and beat Boston in his next start, September 1…Became just the second pitcher since 1920 to beat the Yankees and Red Sox in his first two starts.
• Became just the 18th pitcher in baseball’s live-ball (since 1920) to start against both the Yankees and Red Sox in their first two games, with the Angels’ Jason Dickson doing so last in 1996.
• Of the 17 starters prior to Anderson to face the Yankees and Red Sox in their
first two games since 1920, just one had earned the win in both games…
Cleveland’s Luis Tiant beat the Yankees, 3-0 in his debut on July 19, 1964,
before beating the Red Sox, 6-1, on July 24.
Career Recap
• Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2016 First-Year
Player Draft…Signed by Greg Morhardt.
• In 80 career minor league games, all of which were starts, he is 17-21 with a 2.91
ERA (122 ER/377.2 IP) and 451 strikeouts.
• Was a 2019 Future’s Game selection, has been named to six minor league All-Star teams, and is a three-time Pitcher of the Week in the minors.

WINNER TAKES THE PENNANT!: The Dodgers jumped on the
board early with three runs in the first frame, got 6.0 scoreless
innings from starter Walker Buehler and held on for a 3-1 victory
setting up a winner-take-all Game 7 for the NL pennant this evening
at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. Los Angeles is playing in its
fifth NLCS in the last eight years and fourth in the last five seasons.
The Dodgers and Braves have met three previous times in the
Postseason, all in the NLDS (1996, 2013 and 2018).
The Dodgers have now won three straight NLCS
elimination games (Game 7 2018, Games 5 and 6, 2020)
and need to win a fourth today to advance to the World
Series and claim their 24th NL pennant in club history.
The Dodgers are 7-6 all-time in winner-take-all contests
and this will be the sixth consecutive year that have played
in one of those do-or-die games. L.A. is 4-4 all-time in
decisive Game 7s.
Since the advent of the LCS in 1969, a team facing a 3-1
deficit has come back to force a Game 7 11 times (including
this NLCS), with the team trailing 3-1 winning on seven of
those occasions. The last instance was 2012, when the
Giants came back from down 3-1 to beat the Cardinals.
Since 1969, when the League Championship Series was
introduced to Major League Baseball, the Dodgers have
appeared in the LCS 14 times, which is tied with the
Cardinals for the most in the National League. The Dodgers
and Braves (11) are two of seven franchises that have
appeared in the LCS 10+ times.
1981 VIBES: In 1981, the Dodgers roared back from down 0-2 and
won three consecutive games twice, downing Houston in the
Division Series, 3-2 and the Yankees in the Fall Classic, 4-2. A
victory tonight would give L.A. three consecutive NLCS wins for
the third time in history. The Dodgers also won Games 2, 3 and 4
over the Phillies in ‘77 and beat the Cubs in Games 1, 2 and 3 in ‘17.
CAN YOU SPELL M-V-P?: Corey Seager went 1-for-4 with a
solo home run yesterday and is now hitting .333 (14-for-42) this
Postseason with an NL-best six homers and 15 RBI. His 1.253 OPS
ranks third among all playoff performers with at least 25 at-bats.
Seager is hitting .375 (-for-24) with five homers, 11 RBI
and seven extra-base hits in the NLCS. Seager has set
NLCS records in both homers and RBI and his seven extrabase hits are tied with Javy Lopez (1996) for the all-time
NLCS record. The native of North Carolina’s 26 total bases
are the second most all-time in an NLCS, trailing only
Albert Pujols, who had 28 in 2004 vs. Houston.
Seager is one home run shy from tying the record for home
runs in any Postseason series, which is held by the Rangers’
Nelson Cruz (6 in the 2011 ALCS vs. Detroit). He is one of
eight players all-time to reach at least five homers and 11
RBI in a single Postseason.
His six home runs and 15 RBI this postseason are both
Dodger records for homers and RBI in a single Postseason.
In Game 3 of the NLCS, Seager became the second player
in Postseason history to collect an RBI in five consecutive
at-bats (last two of Game 2 and first three of Game 3),
joining Carlos Beltran (2004). On Wednesday, it was
announced that Seager was one of seven National League
finalists for the Hank Aaron Award, given to the most
outstanding regular season offensive performer in each
league.
POSTSEASON POWER: Corey Seager and Justin Turner belted
back-to-back solo home runs yesterday afternoon in the first inning
and that ended up being all the runs the Dodgers would need in their
3-1 win. Both Seager and Turner inched their way closer to Hall of
Famer Duke Snider’s record for Dodger Postseason home runs. The
list: Snider (11), Steve Garvey (10), Turner (10), Seager (9), Max
Muncy (8), Joc Pederson (8), Kiké Hernández (7) and Adrían
González (7).
EIGHT’S NOT ENOUGH: The Dodgers went 43-17 in the 60-
game season to win their record eighth straight NL West title with
the best record in the Majors. The club’s .717 winning percentage
was the best in franchise history and marked the seventh time in club
history that the Dodgers posted the Majors’ best mark (last: 2017).
The Dodgers won a division title for the eighth straight year,
something only two other franchises have accomplished:
MLB All-Time – Most Consecutive Division Titles
Braves, 1991-2005 14
Yankees, 1998-2006 9
Dodgers, 2013-2020 8 (active streak)
Source: Stats, LLC
The Dodgers reached the World Series in each of their six
previous seasons with the best record in the Majors:
Dodgers Finishing w/MLB’s Best Record, All-time
1949 Brooklyn Dodgers (tied) 97-57 (.630) Lost WS (4-1 NYY)
1952 Brooklyn Dodgers 96-57 (.627) Lost WS (4-3 NYY)
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 105-49 (.682) Lost WS (4-2 NYY)
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers 98-55 (.641) Won WS (4-3 vs NYY)
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers 102-60 (.630) Lost WS (4-1 Oak)
2017 Los Angeles Dodgers 104-58 (.642) Lost WS (4-3 Hou)
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers 43-17 (.717) ???
FAST EDDY: Designated hitter Edwin Ríos drove in both runs for
Los Angeles in Game 4 of the NLCS, clocking the first-ever home
run by a DH in a National League Championship Series game. The
homer was the fourth Postseason long ball all-time by a Dodger
designated hitter. The others were hit by Matt Kemp (Game 1 2018
WS), Joc Pederson (Game 4 2017 WS) and Mike Davis (Game 5
1988 WS).
OCTOBER RED: Dodger third baseman Justin Turner went 1-
for-3 with a walk and his 10th career Postseason homer yesterday,
adding to his record for most career Postseason hits by a Dodger with

71. The 2017 All-Star set the record in Game 3 of the NLDS vs. San
    Diego, surpassing Steve Garvey (63). Turner also holds the club
    record for Postseason RBI with 39 and playoff doubles with 15. In
    65 career postseason games (all with L.A.), Turner has hit .295 (71-
    for-241) with 10 homers, 15 doubles and an .884 OPS.
    The infielder ended the season having reached base safely
    in 31 consecutive games with a plate appearance, doing so
    from Aug. 4-Sept. 27, the longest on-base streak of his
    career (previous high: 28, 2011). It marked the second
    longest streak in the Majors this year behind only Freddie
    Freeman’s 33-game on-base streak from Aug. 11-Sept.
72. Among players with 150 or more AB, Turner ranked
    among the NL leaders in average (.307, 13th) and OBP
    (.400, T-9th). He reached 1,000 career hits with a second-inning double on August 11 against the Padres.
    Turner was the Dodgers’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente
    Award for the third time in four years (also: 2017, ’18) and
    won his third-career Roy Campanella Award as the most
    inspirational Dodger.
    WHERE THERE’S A WILL: Dodger catcher Will Smith had a
    game for the ages in Game 3 of the NLDS vs. San Diego, going 5-
    for-6 with two doubles and three RBI. Smith became the first Dodger
    to collect five hits in a playoff game and was also the youngest player
    and first catcher in Postseason history with a five-hit contest (25
    years, 194 days). In 11 games this Postseason, Smith is hitting .220 (9-for-41) with a homer, three doubles, nine RBI and four runs.

RHP Dustin May: 1-0, 1.35 ERA in 4 G (2 GS)

2020 Postseason:
Tossed 2.0 innings Friday night in his second start of this postseason, allowing two runs
(one earned) on three hits as he struck out three on 55 pitches while not factoring in the
decision…also pitched from the bullpen in Game 1 of the series, striking out two over 1.2
scoreless innings
Started Game 3 of the Division Series, delivering a scoreless inning with one strikeout
and one walk over 16 pitches
Earned his first postseason win in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Padres after
firing 2.0 scoreless frames without allowing a hit or walk…retired all six batters he faced and struck out three on 27 pitches
2020 Regular Season:
Ranked amongst National League leaders (min. 50.0 IP) in ERA (2.57, 8th), opponents’ batting average (.220, T-13th), and WHIP (1.09, T-12th)
In 12 appearances (ten starts) this season, the Texas native earned a 3-1 record with a 2.57 ERA (16 ER/56.0 IP) paired with 44 strikeouts and 16 issued walks…also posted a 1.09 WHIP and produced three quality starts
Pitched out of the ‘pen twice this season (9/16 at San Diego, 9/27 vs. Los Angeles (AL)), earning a win and averaging a 0.96 ERA (1 ER/9.1 IP)…kept opposing hitters
to a .161 batting average (5-for31) while recording 11 punchouts
Has not allowed more than two earned runs in a game this season and in his Dodger career, has not allowed more than three earned runs in his 14 starts…according to STATS LLC, that streak is the longest in Dodger history for a pitcher who has not allowed three or more runs
Has been effective against batters on both sides of the plate, limiting right-handed batters to a .198 average (21-for-106) and lefties to a .242 mark (24-for-99)
Became the first Dodger rookie to start an Opening Day since Fernando Valenzuela replaced an injured Jerry Reuss in 1981…joined Valenzuela, Hal Gregg and Henry Schmidt as the only Dodger rookies to make an Opening Day start….tossed 4.1 innings in a no-decision start on July 23 against the Giants
Career vs. Atlanta:
Has pitched against the Braves three times during his time in the Major Leagues, appearing out of the ‘pen on August 18, 2019 and throwing 2.0 innings as he allowed
four earned runs on three hits, of the nine batters he faced, he walked one without recording a strikeout as he recorded the loss…also faced Atlanta in Game 1 of the
NLCS, delivering 1.2 scoreless innings as he struck out two on 21 pitches and later starting against the Braves in Game 5, striking out two over 2.0 innings as he allowed
two runs (one earned) on three hits while not factoring in the decision
Career Postseason:
Owns a 1-0 career postseason record over six games (two starts) with a 1.80 ERA (2 ER/10.0 IP) and 1.20 WHIP…has allowed seven hits and five walks while striking out 10…has limited the opposition to a .219 average
Pitched in both Game 1 and Game 5 of the Championship series against Atlanta, tossing 3.2 combined innings as he relinquished two runs (one earned) and struck out five…did not factor in either decision as the Dodgers fell to the Braves in Game 1 with a score of 1-5 but later redeemed themselves by winning Game 5, 7-3 Appeared in Game 1 of the Division Series out of the ‘pen and later started Game 3, pitching a combined 3.0 scoreless innings vs. the Padres, giving up just one walk and striking out four without allowing a hit…earned his first postseason win in Game 1.

THE LONG BALL: Los Angeles led the Majors with 118 home
runs in 60 games, an average of 1.97 per game. The 1.97 homers per
game represent the top mark in MLB history, topping the 2019
Minnesota Twins (1.90). The Dodgers’ previous high came last year
when the club averaged 1.72 home runs per game.
The Dodgers blasted 57 home runs in 28 August games,
setting a National League record for most home runs in a
calendar month. The mark was previously held by the
Atlanta Braves, who hit 56 in June 2019.
AJ Pollock and Mookie Betts tied for the team lead and for
third in the National League with 16 homers. Los Angeles
homered in 49 of its 60 games and went 39-10 when hitting
at least one homer. The Dodgers were 28-8 when hitting
two or more home runs in a game.
The Dodgers had five players reach double digit home runs
in the 60-game season, with Pollock, Betts, Corey Seager
(15, T-9th NL), Cody Bellinger (12, T-18th NL) and Max
Muncy (12, T-18th NL) turning the trick. The five players
with 10+ home runs tied for the MLB lead with the Braves,
White Sox and Phillies.
I’M ABOUT TO RUN: The Dodgers led the Majors with a +136
run differential, 52 better than the next best team (Padres +84). Even
with the shortened 60-game season, the 2020 Dodgers’ +136 run
differential represents the ninth best mark in Los Angeles history.
Los Angeles led MLB with 349 runs scored, and ranked
second with 213 runs allowed (Indians, 1st, 209).
The Dodgers’ 5.82 runs per game were the most
in franchise history and ranked as the third most in NL
history behind only the 1996 & 2000 Colorado Rockies.
Los Angeles hitters batted .291 combined with runners in
scoring position (137-for-470), the second-bast mark in the
Majors behind the Padres (.310).
Los Angeles was not shut out all season, the only team in
the Majors to avoid that distinction. The Dodgers scored
five or more runs in 39 of their 60 games, posting a 36-3
record in those contests. The Dodgers scored 122 runs in
the seventh inning or later, the second most in the Majors
(Padres, 124), which helped L.A. register 19 comeback
wins. The club outscored the opposition 122-66 from the
seventh inning on.
SERIES BUSINESS: The Dodgers lost just one series all year – at
home vs. Colorado Sept. 4-6 – and finished the season with a 15-1-4
series record, including six series sweeps. Los Angeles opened the
season by going unbeaten its first 13 series, which is the fifth best
season-opening run in the divisional era (since 1969). The 1977
Dodgers hold the club mark with 14.
Los Angeles went unbeaten in its 10 road series, posting a
9-0-1 series record.
The Dodgers won the season series against every club they
played this year. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the
Dodgers became just the 4th team in the World Series era
(since 1903) to win at least 60% of their decisions against
every team they faced in a season and the first to do so in
101 years.
START ME UP: The Dodgers led the Majors in team ERA
(3.02), opponents’ batting average (.213) and WHIP (1.06), and
allowed just 1.10 home runs per 9.0 innings – the best mark in the
National League and second best in the Majors behind the Twins
(1.09). The Dodgers walked just 2.42 per 9.0 innings (1st, MLB) and
posted the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.96) in the NL.
Los Angeles starters led the NL with a 3.29 combined ERA
(101 ER/276.1 IP), limited opponents to a .219 batting
average (2nd, MLB) and posted an MLB-best 1.07 WHIP.
Clayton Kershaw led the Dodgers in wins (6), innings
(58.1) and strikeouts (62) in his 13th MLB season, going 6-
2 with a 2.16 ERA in 10 starts. Kershaw ranked among the
NL leaders (min. 55 IP) in wins (T-4th), ERA (5th),
opponents’ batting average (.194, 5th) and WHIP (0.84, 2nd).
On Sept. 3, Kershaw reached 2,500 strikeouts by fanning
Arizona’s Nick Ahmed, becoming the third-youngest
pitcher in MLB history to reach the mark at 32 years, 168
days, behind only Nolan Ryan (31 years, 101 days) and
Walter Johnson (31 years, 197 days). He ended the season
ranked 36th on the all-time strikeout list, nine behind
Bartolo Colon.
Among rookies with 40.0 or more innings
pitched, Tony Gonsolin (2.31) and Dustin May (2.57)
ranked first and second, respectively, in ERA.
In nine games (eight starts), Gonsolin limited opponents to
a .189 batting average, allowed just two home runs, walked
seven, struck out 46 in 46.2 innings and posted a 0.84
WHIP – the fourth best mark in the Majors among pitchers
with 40.0 or more innings.
May became the first Dodger rookie to start on Opening
Day since Fernando Valenzuela replaced an injured Jerry
Reuss in 1981 and allowed just one run in 4.1 innings in a
no-decision on July 23 against the Giants. In 12 games (10
starts), he went 3-1 and ranked among the NL leaders (min.
50.0 IP) in ERA (2.57, 8th), opponents’ batting
average (.220, T-13th) and WHIP (1.09, T-12th).
OH WHAT A RELIEF: Dodger relievers posted a 2.74 ERA, the
best mark in the NL and the second best in the Majors behind only
the Athletics (2.72). The Los Angeles bullpen held opponents to a
.207 average (1st, MLB) and posted a 1.04 WHIP, the best mark in
the big leagues. Dodger relievers issued just 2.57 walks per 9.0
innings and allowed only 0.82 HR/9.0 innings, leading the Majors in
both categories.
Four Los Angeles relievers placed among the NL’s top 20
qualifying relievers in ERA: Adam Kolarek (0.95,
3rd), Victor González (1.40, 4th), Dylan Floro (2.59, 16th)
and Jake McGee (2.66, T-19th).
The Dodgers had five relievers with a WHIP of 1.00 or
lower: Gonzalez (0.72, 4th NL), Kolarek (0.79, 6th NL),
McGee (0.84, 8th NL), Brusdar Graterol (0.86, T-9th NL)
and Pedro Báez (1.00, T-24th NL).
Dodger closer Kenley Jansen was selected as the National
League’s Reliever of the Month for July/August, going 1-0
with nine saves in 10 opportunities and posting a 1.23 ERA
(2 ER/14.2 IP). It was Jansen’s second career monthly
award (also: June 2017).
THE DOCTOR IS IN: Dave Roberts made it a perfect 5-for-5,
becoming the first manager in MLB history to lead his team to a
division title in each of his first five full seasons. Under Roberts, the
Dodgers have posted a Major League best 436-273 (.615) record
since 2016.Over the course of the unusual 60-game season, Roberts
used an amazing 56 different lineups in piloting the team to a .717
winning percentage.

MOOKIE MAGIC: After signing a 12-year contract extension that
will keep him in Dodger blue through 2032 prior to Opening
Day, Mookie Betts made a bid to join Frank Robinson as the only
player to win the MVP award in both leagues. Betts ranked among
the NL leaders in hits (64, T-10th), runs (47, 4th), batting average
(.292, 16th), OBP (.366, 17th), SLG (.562, 13th), steals (10, T-5th) and
homers (16, T-3rd). Betts went 18-for-41 (.439) with runners in
scoring position, the third best mark in the Majors, and was at his
best late in games, posting a .343 (24-for70)/.370/.643 slashline from the seventh inning and later.
Betts, 28, has hit safely in nine of 11 playoff games this
year, going 12-for-41 (.293) with five doubles and five RBI.
13 of his 32 playoff hits have gone for extra-bases (12
doubles, one homer).
On Aug. 13, he homered three times against the Padres,
joining Hall-of-Famer Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa as the
only players in MLB history with six career three-homer
games. Betts also collected career-hit No. 1,000 on Aug. 27
vs. San Francisco.
BIG BOSS MAN: Dodger President of Baseball Operations
Andrew Friedman assembled his sixth division-winning club in as
many seasons after joining the Dodgers in the Fall of 2014. This year,
Friedman pulled off his biggest moves before the club played a
game, acquiring Mookie Betts in a three-way deal with the Red Sox
and Twins and then signing Betts to a 12-year contract on the eve of
the 60-game restart. Since taking over the top spot in baseball
operations, Freidman’s Dodger teams have gone 528-343 (.606)
while setting the record for most wins in Los Angeles Dodger history
in 2019 (106, franchise record) and the highest winning percentage
in club history (.717, 2020).