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Atlanta takes series lead with another shutout
The Braves did what they wanted to do starting off their series on the road in Milwaukee, splitting those first two games and getting home field advantage back to finish things off. To get that victory on the road, they leaned on their pitching as Max Fried went out and led the way in a shutout performance for the Atlanta pitching staff.
Back at home for Game Three on Monday, they got more great pitching. Ian Anderson got the start this time around, and he went one fewer inning than Fried in Game Two but the result was the same, with Milwaukee failing to put any runs on the board. They did have a chance in that fifth inning and went all-in for it, hitting for their starter, Freddy Peralta. He had been dealing, but the Brewers wanted to get a run home. They failed to do so, and then the decision bit them immediately.
The Braves finally got some offense in the fifth, starting the inning off with two straight singles before Joc Pederson came up and hit his second homer of the series. The three-run shot put Atlanta up 3-0, and that was all they needed. The Braves’ bullpen combined to toss four shutout innings, and they took a 2-1 series lead. Milwaukee has not scored in their last two games. Atlanta can win it on Tuesday.
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Houston-Chicago rained out
This is a bit more relevant for Red Sox fans as the winner of this series will be hosting Boston on Friday for the first game of the ALCS. This Game Four will be played on Tuesday now, and the Red Sox will certainly be rooting for Chicago in this game, at least, in order for whoever they play on Friday to have the most games possible under their belt.
San Francisco Stymies Los Angeles
On paper, the Dodgers are the best team in baseball, and it is not even close. They were able to flex the full scope of that talent on Monday for Game Three of this series as well, not only having their typically scary lineup but also putting midseason acquisition Max Scherzer on the hill. And they got exactly what they wanted from their ace and NL Cy Young hopeful. The former National was great in this one, going seven strong, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out 10. The only issue for the Dodgers is that one of the hits was an Evan Longoria solo homer, and that was enough for the Giants to pull it out.
San Francisco was able to outduel Scherzer and the Dodgers, with a group effort for the shutout. Alex Wood, a former Dodgers, got the start and tossed 4 2⁄3 innings, then handed things off to Tyler Rogers, who then handed things off to Jake McGee. That got them through seven, and upstart closer Camilo Doval finished out the last two innings. The Dodgers had a chance in the eighth with two on and two out, and Mookie Betts stepping to the plate. And he hit one well, but Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford made a sick leaping grab to keep the runners home and end the inning.
The 1-0 win gave the Giants a 2-1 series lead, and they can clinch this thing on Tuesday.