Postseason Baseball Battle
Blake Snell pitches four strong innings as the Dodgers battle the Braves in Game 2.
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Key Points
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Snell said he believes October performance is what makes a player a Hall of Famer or a legend: “I think it all happens in October.”
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The Dodgers’ choice to start left-handers in the first two games targeted an Atlanta weakness: the Braves hit .240 with a .396 slugging percentage against left-handed pitching during the regular season. Braves manager Walt Weiss said opposing teams had lined up lefties against Atlanta all year.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the rotation order was intended to set up the staff well for the rest of the series, particularly Yamamoto’s Game 3 start in Atlanta.
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In the opener, Tarik Skubal retired the first 15 batters he faced, while Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy each homered for Los Angeles.
Blake Snell pitched four innings for the Dodgers in Game 2 of their NLDS against the Braves, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five. Yahoo Sports reported that Snell threw 90 pitches before leaving with the game tied 1-1, keeping Los Angeles in contention after winning the series opener 5-3.
The left-hander's performance came after a season interrupted by shoulder and elbow injuries. Snell believes October baseball determines legacies, saying according to reports, "I think it all happens in October."
Snell's Short Outing Puts Dodgers in Tight Spot
The Big Lead reported that Snell left the game after just 3.2 innings on 90 pitches despite his solid numbers. The early exit forced Los Angeles to rely heavily on its bullpen with the score locked 1-1, putting the Dodgers in a difficult position for the remainder of Game 2.
Clutch Points noted that pitch efficiency became a problem for Snell. His night ended early due to poor pitch performance, limiting how deep he could go into the contest and shortening his impact on the series.
Dodgers Target Atlanta's Weakness With Left-Handed Arms
Los Angeles strategically started left-handers in Games 1 and 2 to exploit Atlanta's offensive struggles. The Braves hit just .240 with a .396 slugging percentage against left-handed pitching during the regular season, according to Dodgers Nation. Manager Walt Weiss acknowledged that opposing teams had lined up lefties against Atlanta all year long.
Manager Dave Roberts designed the rotation order to set up the staff for success throughout the series. Game 3 in Atlanta will feature Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles, with Chris Sale taking the mound for the Braves after pitching in relief during the wild-card round.
Los Angeles Dominated Game 1 Behind Strong Pitching
The Dodgers won the series opener 5-3 behind stellar pitching from Tarik Skubal, who retired the first 15 batters he faced. Three Los Angeles hitters powered the offense: Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, and Max Muncy each homered to build Los Angeles' early lead in the series.
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