Category: MLB NLCS

I DON’T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW: The Dodgers crushed the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLCS last night, setting franchise Postseason records for runs scored (15) and homers (5) and tying the club record for playoff hits (16) in their 15-3 laugher. The club still has not lost three games in-a-row all year and now trials the series 2-1 heading into tonight. Los Angeles is playing in its fifth
National League Championship Series in the last eight years and fourth in the last five seasons. The Dodgers and Braves had never met in a Postseason series with a World Series berth on the line, but have met three previous times, all in the NLDS (1996, 2013 and 2018). Los Angeles beat the Braves 3-1 in both the 2013 and 2018 NLDS. Atlanta swept the Dodgers in the 1996 NLDS.
The Boys in Blue jumped the Braves for 11 runs in the first frame, which was a record for runs scored in any inning of a Postseason contest. The Dodgers tied a litany of other playoff records, including runs scored in an NLCS game
and homers in an LCS contest. The 12-run winning margin was the largest in club history and Los Angeles became the first team ever to hit five home runs in the first 3.0 innings.
The Dodgers are 20-21 in Game 4s all-time and 6-7 in the NLCS. The last time the club was down 2-1 in the LCS was 2018, when they ended up beating Milwaukee in 7 games. 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.
SEAGER STRONG: Dodger shortstop Corey Seager went 3-for-4 with a double, homer, three runs scored and three RBI in just 4.0 innings last night, raising his 2020 Postseason average to .367 (11-for-30). His 1.244 OPS ranks fifth among all playoff performers with at least 20 AB. 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). Yesterday, 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: The Dodgers hit a Postseason franchise record five home runs last night with five different players turning the trick. Among the homers was a grand slam by Max Muncy and a three-run shot by Joc Pederson, who are now both tied for fourth all-time on the Dodgers’ Postseason home run list. The list: Duke Snider (11), Steve Garvey (10), Justin Turner (9), Muncy (8), 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).
RIGHT MAN, RIGHT SPOT: Dodger left-hander and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will take the ball in Game 4 of the NLCS, making his third appearance this Postseason, following a dominant performance against the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card round (8.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 13 K) and a victory over the San Diego Padres in the NLDS (6.0 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 6 K). He last made a start on Oct. 7 as his turn this series was delayed due to back spasms suffered this weekend. Kershaw is 10 strikeouts away from
tying FOX broadcaster John Smoltz for second on the all-time Postseason list and with a victory tonight, he would tie Roger Clemens for fifth on the Postseason wins list. Kershaw holds Dodger Postseason records in wins (11), starts (27), innings pitched (172.1) and strikeouts (189). He currently ranks among the all-time MLB leaders in many postseason categories, including wins (T-6th), innings pitched (7th), strikeouts (3rd), starts (T-6th). He is 11
strikeouts shy of becoming the second player in MLB history with 200 career postseason strikeouts.
On the season, he went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA while ranking
among the league leaders (min. 50 IP) in wins (T-4th), ERA (5th), opponents’ batting average (.194, 5th) and WHIP (0.84, 2nd).

YOUNG STAFF: Bryse Wilson starts tonight’s game for Atlanta at 22 years, 300 days old…Wilson becomes the fourth pitcher under the age of 27.000 to start for
Atlanta this postseason.
• Max Fried is the oldest Braves starter in the playoffs, pitching Game 1 of the NLCS at 26 years, 268 days.
• Atlanta is just the sixth team in playoff history to have four pitchers Fried’s age or younger start in the postseason, and the first since both the Reds and
A’s in 2012…The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1916 Boston Red Sox each had four such starters as well.
• All nine of Atlanta’s starts this postseason have come from starters younger than 27 years old…Just eight teams in history have gotten more such starts in a
single postseason, with the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays getting a majors-most 16.
• Wilson and Game 2 starter Ian Anderson are just the second set of teammates in history to start games in the LCS prior to turning 23…Don Gullett started
Games 1 and 5 for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1972 NLCS versus Pittsburgh, while Ross Grimsley started Game 4.

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Dodgers continue their best-of-seven National League Championship Series tonight with their fourth 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 33 games between
the clubs since the start of 2016, including the postseason, Atlanta is 11-22 (.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 Bryse Wilson has never faced the Dodgers, and is set to make his postseason debut…In two starts for the Braves this season, the 6-foot-2, 230-
pound native of Durham, NC allowed just one earned run in 8.0 combined innings, fanning nine.
• LHP Clayton Kershaw is set for his 35th career playoff appearance and his third of this postseason…The 6-foot-3, 228-pound native of Dallas, TX is
2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his two postseason starts this year, and is 11-11 with a 4.23 ERA in his career…Kershaw has made three career postseason
appearances against Atlanta, and has allowed just
one earned run in 21.0 innings (0.43 ERA).
2-0 LEAD: 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.
• Following last night’s loss, the Braves are now 8-6 (.571) in Game 3 after taking a 2-0 series lead… They last loss a Game 3 with a 2-0 lead in the 1996
World Series against the Yankees.
• The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the 1992 LCS vs. Pittsburgh and won in seven games, swept Cincinnati in 1995, and went up 2-0

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