Dodgers beat Braves in NLDS Game 3 as Yamamoto outduels Sale; Ohtani bats fifth

Right · 1The Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, 6 October, hitting two home runs off Braves starter Chris Sale while Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched seven innings. 1 Centre · 1Before the game, Newsweek described the pairing of Sale, the 2024 NL Cy Young winner, and Yamamoto, the 2025 World Series MVP, as the first of its kind in 88 years, citing MLB.com's Sarah Langs. 2 Centre · 1Both pitchers had been held out of Game 2 on Sunday. The Braves did not start Sale after he pitched twice in the Wild Card series against the Phillies, and used Ray Kerr in a bullpen game instead. The Dodgers started Blake Snell. 2

Mixed · 2Atlanta won Game 2, 3-2, to level the series at 1-1. Fox News reports that Michael Harris II tripled after Teoscar Hernandez misplayed a fly ball, and that Max Muncy homered with the Dodgers down to their last strike before Josue De Paula popped up to end the game. 2 1 Centre · 1Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Shohei Ohtani to fifth in the Game 3 lineup. Newsweek says this is the lowest he has batted as a Dodger and the lowest in any lineup since his 2020 season with the Angels. 3 Centre · 1Newsweek ties the move to Ohtani's slump. He returned from a biceps injury shortly before the playoffs, had five hits in 21 at-bats over his last five regular-season games, and has two hits in eight postseason at-bats. He chased on 53% of his 19 swings in Game 2. 3

Centre · 1Roberts said Ohtani's at-bats showed "a lot of chase" and that Sale "is going to be tough". He added that Ohtani is "all in" on doing what is best for the team. 3 Right · 1In the game, Sale struggled with his pitch count early. In the fourth inning Kike Hernandez, starting his first game of the postseason, homered to make it 2-0, and Freddie Freeman then hit another home run, according to Fox News. Earlier, Mauricio Dubon had robbed Freeman of a possible homer in the third. 1 Right · 1Atlanta scored once in the fifth, on a Drake Baldwin groundout with the bases loaded. Yamamoto then got Ronald Acuna Jr. to ground out to end the inning. 1

Right · 1Roberts used Edwin Diaz to close the game after Tanner Scott pitched the eighth. Fox News called the choice "gutsy, and controversial", noting Diaz had an 8.68 ERA in the regular season. Diaz allowed a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies but retired the next three batters, and the Dodgers held on. 1 Centre · 1Yamamoto's 2026 regular season, per Newsweek, was a 14-9 record, a 2.53 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 185 innings over 28 starts. He is seeking a third straight World Series title. 2 Right · 1Fox News says the Dodgers now hold a significant advantage. Tyler Mahle starts Game 4 on Wednesday night, with Tyler Glasnow and Tarik Skubal available for a possible Game 4 or 5 if needed, while Sale could pitch in relief in a Game 5. 1