National League

In Game 3 of the National League Division Series, the Atlanta Braves earned a 3-0 win at home over the Milwaukee Brewers to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. 

Atlanta was led by Joc Pederson, who hit a pinch-hit three-run home run in the fifth inning to secure the victory. Braves starting pitcher Ian Anderson struck out six in five scoreless innings.

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Notable Performers

Braves PH Joc Pederson: 1-for-1, three-run HR

Braves SP Ian Anderson: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K's

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5th Inning Costly for Brewers, Beneficial to Braves

The turning point in the game came in the fifth inning. In the top half, the Brewers got their first two batters on base as Luis Urias was hit by a pitch and Omar Narvaez followed with a double.

With runners on second and third with one out after a ground out by Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell made an aggressive move to pinch-hit starting pitcher Freddy Peralta with Daniel Vogelbach. Peralta had pitched four shutout innings, but Counsell decided to pull him with the opportunity to put runs on the board.

That's it for Peralta. Vogelbach is pinch-hitting for him with runners on 2nd and third, 1 out in the fifth. Peralta: four scoreless innings, five Ks. Tells you how rare these opportunities have been.

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) October 11, 2021

Unfortunately, the Brewers failed to do just that. Vogelbach grounded into a fielder's choice at third, and Urias was caught in a rundown. Kolten Wong lined out, and the Braves escaped without allowing a run.

Turning to the bullpen in the fifth inning probably wasn't in Counsell's original plan for Game 3. He went with Adrian Houser, who pitched two relief innings in Game 1, and things did not go well.

Houser allowed back-to-back hits by Travis d'Arnaud and Dansby Swanson. Joc Perderson was sent in to pinch-hit for starting pitcher Ian Anderson, and he delivered with a three-run homer to put Atlanta in front.

WELCOME TO JOCTOBER!@yungjoc650 | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/scosmrCNuN

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 11, 2021

Scoring opportunities have been hard to come by in this series, so Counsell's move to pinch-hit for Peralta is understandable. But with the way Peralta was pitching, it likely would've benefited Milwaukee for him to have thrown at least one more inning.

The Brewers will have to take advantage of those opportunities with runners in scoring position if they hope to avoid elimination in Game 4 on Tuesday.

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Brewers Can't Figure Out Braves Pitching

The Brewers have scored just two runs this series, with both coming in their Game 1 win in Milwaukee. After being shut out in Game 2, the Brewers couldn't get anything going once again Monday.

Anderson was sharp in his five shutout innings with six strikeouts. His changeup was working all day and frustrated Milwaukee hitters.

Ian Anderson's changeup is really good. But this good? Through four innings, the Brewers have whiffed 10 out of 13 swings against the pitch. He's thrown 24 changeups.

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) October 11, 2021

One inning of Ian Anderson Changeups. pic.twitter.com/gLx3M1XTKb

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 11, 2021

Ian Anderson is the first pitcher since 1903 to have 5+ strikeouts while allowing 0 runs in four of his first five postseason appearances. pic.twitter.com/hGYWA3XqM8

— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) October 11, 2021

Anderson's performance was a continuation of the Braves' strong starting pitching throughout the NLDS.

Charlie Morton, Max Fried and Ian Anderson have combined for 17 IP, nine hits, two earned, one walk and 24 strikeouts through the first three games against the #Brewers. That's a 1.06 ERA. That's good. That's really good. #Braves

— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) October 11, 2021

After Anderson exited the game, the Braves bullpen continued its stellar pitching this series. After finishing the regular season with a bullpen ERA of 3.97, Atlanta's relievers have allowed no earned runs through three postseason games.

A key moment came in the top of the eighth with Luke Jackson on the mound. Pitching to Willy Adames with a runner on and one out, Jackson made two straight pitches that he thought were strikes but were called as balls by the home plate umpire. Adames connected on the next pitch for a single that moved Jace Peterson to third base.

Despite letting his frustration get to him, Jackson settled down as he was facing former NL MVP Christian Yelich. Jackson induced Yelich to ground into an inning-ending double play.

DansBYE!@LieutenantDans7 | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/D4FeexoJt9

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 11, 2021

The Braves have the opportunity to send the Brewers home in Game 4, and their chances of doing so will be good if they can continue to get such strong pitching.

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What's Next?

The Braves and Brewers will be back in action for Game 4 in Atlanta on Tuesday at 5:07 p.m. ET. The starting pitchers for the game have yet to be announced.

The Milwaukee Brewers (95-67) will look to get their first postseason series win since 2018 when they take on the Atlanta Braves (88-73) in the National League Division Series.

The Braves have won the NL East four years in a row and came within one game of reaching the World Series last year. The NL Central champion Brewers made the Wild Card Round in each of the past two seasons but came up empty both times. The last time they won the NL Central was in 2018, when they too came within a game of the World Series (both teams were stopped by the Los Angeles Dodgers).

The best-of-five series begins Friday in Milwaukee. All games will be broadcast on TBS. Here's a look at the schedule.

                  

2021 NLDS Schedule: Braves vs. Brewers

Game 1: ATL at MIL, Friday, Oct. 8

Game 2: ATL at MIL, Saturday, Oct. 9

Game 3: MIL at ATL, Monday, Oct. 11

Game 4*: MIL at ATL, Tuesday, Oct. 12

Game 5*: ATL at MIL, Thursday, Oct. 14

*If necessary.

                 

The Braves have already named their starters for the first two games. Charlie Morton (14-6, 3.34 ERA) will take the mound for Game 1, followed by Max Fried (14-7, 3.04 ERA) in Game 2.

The Brewers have not announced their starting rotation for the series, but they have plenty of options on an excellent staff. Corbin Burnes (11-5, 2.43 ERA), Brandon Woodruff (9-10, 2.56 ERA) and Freddy Peralta (10-5, 2.81 ERA) all made the 2021 All-Star team. Both Woodruff and Burnes finished the year with more than 200 strikeouts, while Peralta came close with 195.

The Braves will look to counter the dominant pitching with a balanced lineup, one that has performed well despite losing star outfield Ronald Acuna to a torn ACL in July.

Three infielders—Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley—all hit more than 30 home runs this year. Dansby Swanson wasn't far behind, hitting 27 home runs, a franchise record for a shortstop. Atlanta also proved to be one of the best fielding teams in the majors this year, so they will provide excellent backup to Morton, Fried and Co. 

If the Braves can't get to the starters, it doesn't get much easier with a Milwaukee bullpen led by All-Star closer Josh Hader (1.24 ERA, 34 saves). Atlanta will have to fight and scratch for every run and hope their pitchers can handle an offense that finished 12th in the majors in runs, 14th in on-base percentage and 18th in home runs.

Avisail Garcia and Luis Urias are the big bats on the Brewers with 29 and 23 home runs, respectively, while Christian Yelich remains dangerous despite a rough finish to the year that saw him record a .221 average and just one home run after Sept. 1, per Baseball Reference.

The Braves are in good hands with Morton on the mound in Game 1, as the 37-year-old right-hander has a 3.38 career postseason ERA. He and the other Braves starters need to be sharp, though, because Atlanta will have to fight for every run it can get against one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.

It took the entire 162-game season to settle it, but the National League Wild Card Game is finally locked in. The Los Angeles Dodgers (106-56) will host the St. Louis Cardinals (90-72) in a one-game playoff, with the winner going on to face the San Francisco Giants (107-55) in the National League Division Series.

The game will be held at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, with first pitch set for 8:10 p.m. ET on TBS. According to FanDuel, the Dodgers are the opening favorites at -230, while the Cardinals are a slight underdog at +190. The spread is 1.5 runs, and the over/under is 7.5 runs.

Heading into Sunday's finale, the Dodgers needed a win coupled with a Giants loss, to force a Game 163 to decide the NL West title. The boys in blue did their part, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 10-3. But the Giants, who many considered a non-factor prior to the season, were again in lockstep with their division rivals, as they clobbered the San Diego Padres 11-4 to secure their first NL West title since 2012 (the Dodgers had won every division title in the interim).

The Dodgers tied their franchise record with 106 wins and finished in 2nd in the NL West.

No team in MLB history has ever won more games and NOT finished in 1st place in its division or league. pic.twitter.com/IpA4tbX4aI

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 3, 2021

So, the Dodgers have the second-best record in the majors this season, and their "prize" is an agonizing do-or-die clash with the Cardinals, who are just a couple games removed from a 17-game winning streak that vaulted them into the postseason.

The Cards have already announced Adam Wainwright (17-7, 3.05 ERA) will start this week's game. The Dodgers haven't made it official, but they are likely to call upon Max Scherzer (15-4, 2.46 ERA with L.A. and Washington), who put together another excellent season but stumbled at the finish line, giving up five earned runs in each of his last two starts. 

The Dodgers might be without one of their best hitters against the Cardinals, as first baseman Max Muncy (36 home runs, 94 RBI) left Sunday's game with a left elbow injury after colliding with the Brewers' Jace Peterson at first base, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. 

If Muncy is a no-go, the Dodgers have options to replace him. Cody Bellinger has had a nightmare season with an average well below the Mendoza Line, but the 2019 NL MVP can slot in at first base and try to do some damage. The Dodgers can also turn to Albert Pujols at first and have Bellinger ready to pinch hit, with AJ Pollock, Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts manning the outfield.

Thanks to their embarrassment of riches, the Dodgers will put together a brutal lineup to go up against Wainwright, Muncy or no Muncy. They managed to tag him for four runs on Sept. 8, but it may not be so simple this week. Wainwright, 40, tends to take his game to another level in October, as he sports a career 2.89 ERA in the postseason.

Wednesday's game could start off as a classic pitcher's duel if Scherzer shakes off the mistakes from his last two outings. Tyler O'Neill, Nolen Arenado and the red-hot Paul Goldschmidt (.333 BA, nine home runs in September and October) will be difficult to navigate, but Scherzer has proved he can handle St. Louis, having pitched eight shutout innings against them on Sept. 6, though that was before the big winning streak.

If this game is tight through the first few innings, the Dodgers might have an edge late. They've been brilliant in clutch scenarios over the past couple weeks. Trea Turner hit a grand slam Sunday, a nice follow up to the one he hit Friday. Corey Seager has been red hot in September, and the team put a four-home run inning to dust off the Padres on Sept. 30.

The Cardinals are going to be tough, but the Dodgers are the better team top to bottom, and they will touch up the bullpen just enough to get the win.

Prediction: Dodgers beat Cardinals 4-2

        

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Mookie Betts is the 2020 National League Most Valuable Player. 

That's not literally true. Atlanta's Freddie Freeman won the award Thursday, earning 28 out of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Freeman was a justifiable choice. But Betts would have been the more justifiable one by the stats and, essentially, in light of the big picture.

   

Betts vs. Freeman by the Numbers

For context, let's compare Betts' and Freeman's 2020 stats:

Betts: .292/.366/.562, 16 HR, 3.4 Baseball Reference WAR (rWAR)

Freeman: .341/.462/.640, 13 HR, 2.9 rWAR

Parse the numbers, pick a camp, dig in your heels.

In the end, though, this shouldn't have been an especially difficult call. And it should have gone the other way, with Freeman the runner-up and Betts the winner.

        

Why Betts Is the Rightful MVP

Freeman is a superlative player. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2011 and has been consistently excellent ever since.

He made four All-Star appearances and earned four top-eight MVP finishes between '11 and '19. In a sense, his 2020 MVP is a lifetime achievement award, and he isn't done. Someday, Freeman might have a plaque in Cooperstown.

But Betts stands above him, plain and simple.

If we rely solely on rWAR, the argument is open-and-shut. Betts is also a vastly better runner than Freeman, as evidenced by the eye test and the 10 bases he stole to Freeman's two. 

As for glove work, Freeman posted zero defensive runs saved at first base to Betts' 11 DRS in right field.

But Most Valuable Player is ultimately about more than any stat or skill and involves some subjectivity. Here, the tiebreaking query is: Who's the face of the game?

It's Betts in a landslide.

This is a regular-season prize. In that regard, the Dodgers finished with the best regular-season record (43-17)—truncated campaign be damned. Atlanta took the NL East but at an inferior 35-25.

Betts also helped the Dodgers win their first title since 1988 and resides in one of the game's largest markets. This isn't an MVP credential by itself, but it solidifies his status as the league's torchbearer.

Bright lights, big city, massive star.

Betts is the leading man on a huge stage with a second ring on his finger. Say what you will about low-key Mike Trout, injury-prone Aaron Judge or any number of other top MLB names.

Betts, at present, is baseball.

How about intangibles? As MLB.com's Ken Gurnick put it: "In the clubhouse, Betts challenged his new teammates in spring training to raise their game and provided invaluable leadership to young players."

"Leadership" can be a platitude. But the proof is in the championship. Granted, again, the title doesn't win MVP, but let's not pretend it doesn't matter in the big picture.

Betts won a ring and a Most Valuable Player award with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and would have become the second player ever (joining Frank Robinson) to earn an MVP in both the National League and American League.

Former ace CC Sabathia recently crowned Betts the best player in the game:

Do you think MLB is the best in MLB? pic.twitter.com/BHpTTjgrDv

— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2020

Here's some visual evidence. Yeah, it comes in the playoffs, which BBWAA voters couldn't consider, but it's off a ball hit by Freeman in the NLCS and is worth watching. Believe us, Betts made plenty of plays like this in the regular season:

MOOKIE AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/SlSttMLcVj

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 19, 2020

We aren't taking anything away from Freeman, who flexed his muscles and overcame a serious case of COVID-19 before the 2020 regular season.

Atlanta is on the rise behind stars such as Ronald Acuna Jr. and could make Freeman a champion in 2021.

But how do you define MVP? Is it merely a guy on a good team who stuffed the stat sheet? 

Or is it the player who did all of that and rose to the level of sport-defining superstar?

"I think anyone, whether it be a coach, a fan, a member of the media, can look at stats," Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts told reporters on Sept. 21. "But when you see a guy day in and day out and the impact he has on a clubhouse, certainly, [he's been] considerably better than I expected—and I had lofty goals anyway."

Betts was that dude, day in and day out. He's the NL MVP.

Not really, based on the vote. Kudos to Freeman. 

But BBWAA voters will look back in a few years and wonder why they got this wrong. And those in the know will regard Betts as the MVP.

   

All statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs.

Austin Riley led off the ninth inning of Game 1 in the National League Championship Series with a monster home run to spark a four-run frame for the Atlanta Braves, who secured a 5-1 win Monday and a 1-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

L.A. will send longtime ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound in Game 2 as it looks to get back level Tuesday. Atlanta is going to counter with rookie Ian Anderson, who has yet to allow a run through 11.2 postseason innings.

Let's check out all of the important information for the NLCS heading into the second game, followed by a preview and prediction.

             

Game 2 Viewing Details

Where: Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas

When: Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:05 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

           

Series Information

Odds to Advance: Dodgers -118 (bet $118 to win $100), Braves -106 (via DraftKings Sportsbook)

Game 1: Braves 5, Dodgers 1

Game 2: Oct. 13, at 6:05 p.m. ET

Game 3: Oct. 14, at 6:05 p.m. ET

Game 4: Oct. 15, time TBA

Game 5*: Oct. 16, time TBA

Game 6*: Oct. 17, time TBA

Game 7*: Oct. 18, time TBA

*denotes if necessary

              

Game 2 Preview

The Braves' lack of depth in their starting rotation makes Game 2 the ultimate NLCS turning point.

Atlanta lost Mike Soroka and Cole Hamels, its projected top two starters, to injuries. Felix Hernandez opted out of the campaign because of COVID-19, while Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb and Touki Toussaint were all ineffective when trying to fill voids in the staff.

In turn, the Braves leaned heavily on the tandem of Max Fried, who was terrific in Game 1, and Anderson to carry the rotation. Starting in Game 3, however, things will get more complicated as they try to slow down the Dodgers' high-powered offense.

Kyle Wright is coming off a strong outing against the Miami Marlins in the Division Series ahead of his Game 3 start, but he posted a 5.21 ERA during the regular season. Bryse Wilson (4.02 ERA) and Huascar Ynoa (5.82 ERA) will likely serve as the starters in Games 4 and 5.

The Braves are going to lean heavily on their bullpen in the middle games of the series, but doing so is made more difficult by the possibility of seven games in seven days.

By contrast, the Dodgers have the potential to send Julio Urias (3.27 ERA), Tony Gonsolin (2.31 ERA) and Dustin May (2.57 ERA), who pitched in relief during Game 1, to the mound for Games 3 through 5.

Both of the NLCS counterparts can light up the scoreboard. The Dodgers led MLB with 349 runs, and the Braves were right behind with 348. They also finished as the top two teams in OPS, with Atlanta (.832) edging Los Angeles (.821) in that category.

So this series is more about which pitching staff can better neutralize all that pop, and it appears L.A. has a sizable advantage in the days ahead. So Kershaw has the ability to put the Dodgers right back in the driver's seat with a win Tuesday.

On the flip side, if Anderson can lead the Braves to a Game 2 win and a 2-0 lead, they'll be in a far better position to handle any potential setbacks in the middle of the series. Fried and Anderson could come back for Games 6 and 7 without needing to return on short rest.

So it's reasonable to believe the team that wins Tuesday night will ultimately take the series, and the pitching matchup suggests it's another game that will come down to the final innings.

Prediction: Dodgers 4, Braves 3

The San Diego Padres have a postseason date with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time in the history of their National League West rivalry.

Two teams who paired loads of homegrown talent with major offseason acquisitions will battle each other just for an opportunity to reach the NLCS.

The Padres enter the division series after knocking off the St. Louis Cardinals in three games, while the Dodgers took care of the Milwaukee Brewers in two quick outings. 

San Diego watched as wunderkind shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (.277/.366/.571, 17 home runs) became a superstar before the age of 22 with likely NL Rookie of the Year Jake Cronenworth (.285/.354/.477, 20 RBI) manning second base. Meanwhile, Eric Hosmer (nine home runs) and Manny Machado (16 home runs) fill out the infield. 

That will match up nicely against a Dodgers team boasting Max Muncy, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor and Justin Turner around the horn.  

Because of COVID-19 concerns, all games in the NLDS will be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers will remain the "home" team for Games 1 and 2.

       

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. NLDS Odds

Series Lines: (Series prices will be made available at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Game 1: Oct. 6

TV: FS1/MLB Network

First Pitch: TBD

     

The Padres finished just six games behind the Dodgers in the NL West for second place—an astonishing feat given L.A. was the best team in the regular season by far. San Diego went 4-6 against the Dodgers in the regular season, getting outscored by 12 runs along the way. 

It's the eighth consecutive season Los Angeles has played their way into the National League Division Series. For the first time, it appears they'll have ace Clayton Kershaw pitching at his best.

Kershaw has long fallen short in the postseason, tossing 166.1 innings with a 4.22 ERA and 1.08 WHIP despite a career regular-season ERA of 2.43. That seemingly changed in the wild card series against the Milwaukee Brewers when he went eight innings with 13 strikeouts, one walk and no runs to eliminate the NL Central club. 

The Dodgers have been baseball's model franchise for nearly a decade with little postseason success to show for it. This may be the year that changes. 

With outfielder Mookie Betts (.292/.366/.562, 16 home runs, 39 RBI) at the top of the order, there's less pressure on the likes of Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager and Justin Turner to get the offense thriving and even fewer spots where opponents can pitch around batters. 

A league-leading 349 runs scored over a 60-game regular season is proof of that—and also just half of what makes L.A. so dangerous. The Dodgers allowed the second-fewest runs in baseball this year (213) thanks to the relief pitching of Blake Treinen (1.21 WHIP, 25.2 IP), Kenley Jansen (1.15 WHIP, 24.1 IP) and the hard-throwing Brusdar Graterol (0.90 WHIP, 23.1 IP). 

If the Dodgers can build an early lead before turning the game over to their bullpen, it's a generally disappointing night for their opponents. 

With a healthy rotation, a stacked bullpen and a lineup stacked with recent MVPs and consistent sluggers, this could finally be the postseason of Los Angeles' dreams. 

On Sunday, four National League teams came into the final day of play in the abbreviated MLB season looking to lock down the two remaining playoff spots. 

With the St. Louis Cardinals defeating their division rival Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, they played their way into the postseason. The Cardinals secured the fifth seed in the NL playoffs, sending the Miami Marlins to No. 6.

Even though the Brewers didn't secure their postseason berth with a win, they still earned the No. 8 seed thanks to the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies losing their games. 

Given the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened regular season, the MLB playoffs will look a bit different this year. Eight teams in each league have advanced to the postseason: the division winners, who hold the top three seeds, the second-place team in each division and the two teams with the next-best records in the league, regardless of division. 

The three teams to win their respective divisions were the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. 

The wild-card round will feature eight best-of-three series, with the higher seed hosting all games in this round. 

Once the wild-card round is set, things become more normal: a best-of-five divisional series, a best-of-seven championship series, and a best-of-seven World Series. 

Let's take a look at the seeding for each of the eight teams in the NL Wild Card round, as well as their odds and the schedule of play for the next three games. 

MLB playoffs set 🔥

AL matchups
➖ Blue Jays (8) vs Rays (1)
➖ White Sox (7) vs Athletics (2)
➖ Astros (6) vs Twins (3)
➖ Yankees (5) vs Indians (4)

NL matchups
➖ Brewers (8) vs Dodgers (1)
➖ Reds (7) vs Braves (2)
➖ Marlins (6) vs Cubs (3)
➖ Cardinals (5) vs Padres (4) pic.twitter.com/oIYpMRa5pb

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 27, 2020

     

NL Wild Card Round Matchups and Odds to Win League

No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers (13/10) vs. No. 8 Milwaukee Brewers (15/1)

No. 2 Atlanta Braves (11/2) vs. No. 7 Cincinnati Reds (15/1)

No. 3 Chicago Cubs (7/1) vs. No. 6 Miami Marlins (15/1)

No. 4 San Diego Padres (5/1) vs. No. 5 St. Louis Cardinals (14/1)

       

NL Wild Card Round Schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 30

Game 1: Brewers at Dodgers

Game 1: Reds at Braves

Game 1: Marlins at Cubs

Game 1: Cardinals at Padres

     

Thursday, Oct. 1

Game 2: Brewers at Dodgers

Game 2: Reds at Braves

Game 2: Marlins at Cubs

Game 2: Cardinals at Padres

     

Friday, Oct. 2

Game 3: Brewers at Dodgers

Game 3: Reds at Braves

Game 3: Marlins at Cubs

Game 3: Cardinals at Padres

Start times and TV schedule TBD

It's been obvious since MLB embarked upon its 60-game slate that the Dodgers would in all likelihood lock down the No. 1 seed. Benefiting from ace pitching and a productive offense, Los Angeles cruised to 43 wins in 60 games, the most of any team in either league this season. 

The injury-plagued Brewers, along with the Houston Astros in the AL, become the first team to reach the postseason with a losing record (29-31), as USA Today's Bob Nightengale pointed out:

The #Brewers and #Astros will be the first teams in #MLB history to reach the postseason with a losing record

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 27, 2020

It's easy to root for the Brewers' underdog heart, but there's almost no chance they defeat the Dodgers in the wild-card round. Prediction: Dodgers.

The Reds will lean on their strong starting rotation when they begin their best-of-three series against the Braves Wednesday. But will it be enough? Atlanta's offense is downright scary, entering Sunday leading MLB in runs scored, slugging percentage (.485) and on-base percentage (.350). With first baseman Freddie Freeman leading the MVP conversation in the National League, the Braves shouldn't have much trouble here. Prediction: Braves.

The Marlins are another feel-good story this year, having clinched their first postseason berth in 17 years to face the Cubs at Wrigley Field. But losing starting pitcher Jose Urena, who suffered a fracture in his right forearm Sunday, for the rest of the postseason soured the good feelings. Even without fans in the seats in this exceedingly strange season, it's hard to bet against the Cubs at home. Prediction: Cubs.

The Cardinals' road to the postseason could have ended months ago when the team suffered a rash of COVID-19 cases, so it's admirable they were able to plow through doubleheaders to make it here. However, it's no secret St. Louis has struggled to generate offense this season, and it's hard to see the club outhitting Slam Diego. Prediction: Padres. 

      

Odds via DraftKings and current as of Sept. 27

Walker Buehler and Stephen Strasburg need a second dominant postseason performance on Wednesday to keep their respective teams alive in the MLB playoffs. 

Buehler pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers to an early National League Division Series lead in Game 1, and Strasburg helped the Washington Nationals level the series in Game 2. 

Since the series shifted from L.A. to D.C., the Dodgers and Nationals have combined for 21 runs, but a low total is expected with the pair of double-digit game winners on the hill at Dodger Stadium. 

Wednesday's first NLDS finale could also be a pitchers' duel, as Atlanta's Mike Foltynewicz and St. Louis' Jack Flaherty face off for a second time.

               

Wednesday NLDS Schedule

Game 5: No. 3 St. Louis at No. 2 Atlanta (5:02 p.m. ET, TBS) 

Game 5: No. 4 Washington at No. 1 Los Angeles (8:37 p.m. ET, TBS) 

Games can be live-streamed on TBS.com or TBS app. 

                      

Predictions

Los Angeles 3, Washington 1

In Game 1, Buehler shut down the Nationals by striking out eight and giving up one hit in six shutout frames. 

In his last three postseason appearances, the right-hander allowed a single earned run over 17.2 innings. Buehler won Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS, so he is used to the pressure, per USA Today's Steve Gardner. 

"I guess this will be my third of those scenarios, so (it's) something I'm familiar with," Buehler said. "Getting to do it at home certainly helps, and there's not a lot to it. We got to win a game, and if we don't, we go home."

The 25-year-old went 6-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 14 regular-season starts at home, and he conceded two runs or fewer in eight of those appearances. 

Strasburg is 2-0 with 14 strikeouts in his pair of 2019 playoff appearances. In Game 2, he fanned 10 batters over six innings while giving up three hits and a run. 

The 2009 No. 1 overall pick became the first player to have three 10-strikeout performances in his first five playoff starts, per ESPN Stats & Info. 

If the starters are locked in a battle, the series could come down to the bullpens. 

In the Dodgers' two wins, their relievers gave up three hits. Joe Kelly was the only one to be tagged for runs. He showed improvement from Game 1 to Game 3 by finishing the victory with a scoreless frame. 

A combination of Kelly, Kenta Maeda, Adam Kolarek, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen should shut down the Nationals in relief of Buehler. 

In the two contests at Dodger Stadium, the Washington reliever directly following the starter gave up three earned runs. 

If the home side can put Strasburg under pressure and then capitalize on the visiting bullpen, it could make the difference Wednesday. 

Los Angeles has scored 11 runs in the sixth inning or later, and if that trend continues against Sean Doolittle, Fernando Rodney or the other Nationals relievers, it should move on to the National League Championship Series. 

                    

St. Louis 4, Atlanta 2

In their last meeting at SunTrust Park, Flaherty and Foltynewicz combined for 15 strikeouts in their seven-inning stints.

The difference was the three earned runs conceded by the St. Louis hurler. The 23-year-old is excited for his second chance at the Braves on Wednesday, per Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 

"It's just one of those things you kind of look for. And you've got to be excited about it. Come on. You got Game 5. Win or go home? What's not to be excited about?" Flaherty said. 

After four matchups, Foltynewicz has an idea of what to expect from the St. Louis lineup, per MLB.com's Mark Bowman and Adam Berry.

Foltynewicz shares the same feelings, and he feels confident due to the amount of times the Braves have faced the St. Louis hitters. 

"We've seen these guys plenty of times now," Foltynewicz said. "They've seen me. Kind of just like a chess game a little bit. Just gotta go out there and really just focus and execute."

Flaherty produced a solid showing Friday, but he was just outdueled by his counterpart. If he puts together a similar outing, the Cardinals could be in a good spot to pounce. 

In Game 4, the Cardinals jumped out to a two-run lead through home runs from Paul Goldschmidt and Marcell Ozuna, who have been two of the best hitters in the series.

St. Louis' pair of sluggers went 15-for-33 with seven doubles and four home runs in the first four games. 

Additionally, the Cardinals scored an early run in Game 3 before Mike Soroka settled into a rhythm.

Mike Shildt's team needs that same production, plus a few more runs, to put the home side under pressure in the first third of the contest.

If Flaherty goes six or seven frames, the St. Louis bullpen could shut down the Braves. Besides Carlos Martinez, Cardinals relievers have given up one earned run in 8.1 innings. Even Martinez, who struggled early in the series, produced a scoreless inning in Game 4.

Atlanta has four pitchers with a postseason ERA of 4.50 or higher, and in Game 4, Shane Greene and Julio Teheran failed to close out a one-run advantage. 

If St. Louis can back up Flaherty with early run support and get two or three strong innings from the bullpen, it could be one step away from its first World Series since 2013.

             

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference. 

Dansby Swanson's game-tying double and Adam Duvall's go-ahead single with two outs in the top of the ninth inning propelled the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Sunday in Busch Stadium.

Swanson hit the first pitch he saw—an 87 mph slider from closer Carlos Martinez—to the left-field wall to score pinch runner Billy Hamilton.

DANSBY DELIVERS IN THE 9TH. #NLDS pic.twitter.com/jGeysasPIA

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2019

The shortstop had three of the Braves' seven hits.

Martinez got Duvall into an 0-2 hole with runners on second and third, but the left fielder came through in the clutch once again with a two-run single to score Swanson and pinch runner Rafael Ortega.

THIS GAME. 😱#NLDS pic.twitter.com/SOildQN0na

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2019

Duvall hit a two-run homer off Jack Flaherty in Game 2 of the NLDS to give the Braves a couple of insurance runs in a 3-0 win Friday.

Swanson and Duvall spoiled an excellent outing from Adam Wainwright, who twirled 7.2 shutout innings and struck out eight while scattering four hits.

Marcell Ozuna was the only Cardinal to record a hit until the eighth inning. He scored the Cardinals' lone run in the second inning after hitting a double and coming home thanks to a Yadier Molina groundout and a Matt Carpenter sacrifice fly.

The Cardinals brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth after a Paul Goldschmidt double, but Braves closer Mark Melancon struck out Ozuna and induced a harmless flyout off Molina's bat.

The Braves now have a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five matchup.

      

Notable Performances

Braves SP Mike Soroka: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, ND

Braves SS Dansby Swanson: 3-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI

Braves LF Adam Duvall: 1-for-1, 2 RBI

Cardinals SP Adam Wainwright: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, ND

Cardinals LF Marcell Ozuna: 2-for-4, 2B, R

Cardinals RP Carlos Martinez: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, L

     

Braves' Bats Heat Up Just in Time

The Braves are stacked with talented and versatile hitters who helped the team earn a 97-65 record and the NL's No. 2 seed, but they've been ice cold for the majority of this series.

Atlanta has scored just two runs in the first five innings of its first three postseason games. And in Game 3, the Braves only put one runner into scoring position through seven frames.

However, Atlanta is simply too deep to be kept at bay for long.

That sentiment revealed itself in the ninth inning after Swanson's third hit and Duvall's continued pinch-hit magic led the Braves to victory despite Ronald Acuna Jr., Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis combining to go 0-for-11 with three strikeouts while leaving eight runners on base.

The Cardinals' issue is that they need to pick their poison with the lineup. 

Martinez walked catcher Brian McCann to get to Swanson and earn the righty-righty matchup, but the shortstop made the Cards pay with his third hit of the night.

As for the rest of the lineup, the Braves simply ran into a buzzsaw in Wainwright, who put forth a clutch start that outshone Braves right-hander Mike Soroka's fantastic efforts. But variance finally seemed to swing the Braves' way in the ninth after it failed to do so for much of the series.

The question now is if and when the rest of the Braves bats can get going. For example, it's unlike Freeman, who's gone hitless in his past two games, to leave five runners on base in a single day.

However, it wouldn't be surprising to see Freeman and others heat up starting Monday.

As Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported, this is the first playoff series lead the Braves have experienced since 2002:

This is Atlanta’s 1st lead in a series in 32 games dating back to 2002

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 6, 2019

Atlanta has lost all seven of its completed playoff series (and one NL Wild Card Game) during that span.

But if the bats get hot, then that cold spell will break shortly. At that point, the sky would be the limit for a well-rounded team that can match up with anyone.

       

Adam Wainwright's Brilliant Once Again in October

Wainwright became a household name when he caught New York Mets slugger Carlos Beltran looking with a curveball to end the dramatic 2006 National League Championship Series.

The right-hander's iconic moment was a sign of things to come in his postseason career, as he'd registered a 3.03 ERA and 96 strikeouts over 89.0 playoff innings entering Sunday.

Derrick S. Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offered some statistical insight into his postseason starts: 

Adam Wainwright, #Cardinals:

- 13 postseason starts
- 8 of at least 7 innings
- 9 of two or fewer earned runs.#NLDS #stlcards #Braves https://t.co/nCxqsD3OGC

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) October 6, 2019

More of the same occurred Sunday as Wainwright shut down the team that drafted him in 2000 (and traded him in 2003) for 7.2 innings.

Impressively, the 38-year-old did so against a franchise that finished third in runs in the National League.

He also made a little history along the way, per Baseball Reference: 

Adam Wainwright is the oldest pitcher to throw 100+ pitches and allow 0 runs in a postseason game since Curt Schilling in 2007 https://t.co/jDb9KjtAFP pic.twitter.com/UL2PsIUMKj

— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 6, 2019

Coming through in big games is nothing new for Wainwright, who once tossed a complete-game gem in the NLDS-deciding Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013.

He also threw 9.2 scoreless innings in relief during the Cards' 2006 World Series run.

If Wainwright is exhibiting that form, then the Cardinals simply become much harder to beat.

Granted, the ending wasn't the outcome St. Louis wanted, but either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals certainly won't be looking forward to facing playoff-tested Wainwright in the NLCS if the Cards can come back versus Atlanta.

           

What's Next?

The Braves and Cardinals will return to Busch Stadium for Game 4 on Monday at 3:07 p.m. ET.

A Braves win will end the NLDS, while a Cardinals victory will extend the series to a winner-take-all Game 5 on Wednesday in Atlanta.

The Braves have not made the NLCS since 2001.

The St. Louis Cardinals are heading to the postseason for the first time since 2015 after clinching the National League Central title on the last day of the regular season. The Cardinals beat the Cubs 9-0 on Sunday to force the Milwaukee Brewers to settle for the NL Wild Card Game against the Washington Nationals.  

The Cardinals (91-71) will meet NL East champion Atlanta Braves (97-65) in one of two National League Division Series. The winner of the Brewers-Nationals game will go on to play the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Braves beat the Cardinals in four of their six meetings this season and will play the first two games of the best-of-five series at home.

      

Schedule for Braves vs. Cardinals 2019 NLDS

Game 1: Cardinals at Braves on Thursday, Oct. 3

Game 2: Cardinals at Braves on Friday, Oct. 4

Game 3: Braves at Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 6

Game 4*: Braves at Cardinals on Monday, Oct. 7

Game 5*: Cardinals at Braves on Wednesday, Oct. 9

* if necessary

All games will be televised on TBS. Exact start times for the broadcasts are to be determined.

The Braves will be looking to improve on last year's playoff performance, when they lost to the Dodgers in four games in the NLDS. They boast one of the most electrifying players in the league in outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. The 21-year-old sensation smacked 41 home runs this year and 101 RBI. He also led the National League with 127 runs scored and 37 stolen bases. All this, in just his second year in the majors.

Acuna figures to be the focal point for Cardinals pitchers, but they also have to contend with a consistent masher in first baseman Freddie Freeman (38 HR, 121 RBI). The concern for Atlanta is that injuries suffered toward the end of the season will hamper their production. Freeman isn't worried about his elbow.

"I feel fine", he said Sunday, per AJC.com's Gabriel Burns. "Obviously it's not what I want it to be, but it's not affecting anything. I feel fine. I'm in there today. I have no reservations going forward. I told you guys if I felt good, I'd play all three games and I feel good."

On the mound, the Braves will look to starter Dallas Keuchel for postseason experience. Keuchel (8-8, 3.75 ERA) won a World Series ring with the Houston Astros in 2017. Another Braves starter to watch is All-Star Mike Soroka. The 21-year-old went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA, third-best among NL starters.

The Cardinals had just one All-Star this year in shortstop Paul DeJong, who notched 30 home runs and 78 RBI but has struggled in the last few weeks of the regular season. Second baseman Kolten Wong (.285 BA, .361 OBP) is a tough out, while first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (34 HR) and left fielder Marcell Ozuna (29 HR) can put a jolt into the baseball.

The Cardinals also boast several live arms and figure to make life difficult for Braves hitters. St. Louis finished with a 3.80 ERA, fifth-best in the majors. Jack Flaherty, 23, is the one to watch. The right-handed starter went 10-5 after the All-Star break with a microscopic 0.93 ERA.

"His second half is as good as you're going to see anyone pitch in the history of the game," infielder Matt Carpenter said, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. "I mean, it was lights-out every time he stepped on the mound."

The Cardinals will need more of Flaherty's magic in what figures to be a tough series against the Braves. They stumbled at the end of the season, but it's all behind them now. The winner of this series will have to get into top form quickly, as a path to the World Series in the NL likely goes through the 106-win Dodgers.