ATLANTA — It wasn’t always pretty, but Game 1 of the 2021 National League Championship Series belongs to the Atlanta Braves after a spine-chilling, walk-off base hit by Austin Riley knocked in the winning run.
Nothing was easy for Atlanta as the Braves struck out 14 times in Game 1 and only had three baserunners get past second base. All three scored.
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Game two preview:
If that game was any indication of how the series is going to be played, you might want to consider keeping a roll of antacids nearby.
First Pitch: 7:38 p.m. Sunday at Truist
Broadcast: TBS on TV, 680 The Fan radio
Tickets: Game is officially sold out. Secondary market tickets are available.
Starting Pitchers: Ian Anderson for the Braves, Max Scherzer for the Dodgers. Anderson threw five innings of shutout baseball in his last start during the Divisional Series vs. Milwaukee. He’s only given up one run in four career playoff starts.
Scherzer brings a Hall of Fame resume to the game and has been stellar since being acquired by the Dodgers at the All-Star break. The Braves have seen him multiple times over the years when he was with Washington with mixed results.
Storylines: Can the Braves get some offense from anyone not named Austin Riley? Can Anderson silence the powerful Dodger bats? Can the Dodgers convert baserunners into runs? Will Scherzer be ready to face an old nemesis in the Braves?
RELATED:
- Austin Riley’s walk-off hit gives Braves 1-0 NLCS lead over Dodgers
- Braves announce roster for NLCS vs. Dodgers; Anderson to start Game 2
- NLCS 2021: A look back at playoff history between Braves and Dodgers
With most baseball insiders predicting an easy Dodgers victory, Saturday’s result caught a lot of people by surprise. The Braves, if nothing else, have been resilient all season long, keeping afloat during stretches of inconsistency and doing whatever was needed to get a win.
The question is, is it enough to beat the powerful Dodgers?
Game 1 was as close to a “must win” game as you’ll see in playoff baseball. It gives the Braves some working room before having to fly cross country to begin the week in Los Angeles.
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Atlanta’s lineup is expected to stay mostly the same, the surprise Saturday night was Eddie Rosario in the leadoff spot with Dansby Swanson moving back to eighth in the order.
Here’s the remaining schedule for the series:
- SUNDAY, Oct. 17: Dodgers at Braves, 7:38 p.m. (ET)
- TUESDAY, Oct. 19: Braves at Dodgers, 5:00 p.m. (ET)
- WEDNESDAY, Oct 20: Braves at Dodgers, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
- THURSDAY, Oct. 21: Braves at Dodgers, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
- SATURDAY, Oct. 23: Dodgers at Braves, 5:00 p.m. (ET) if needed
- SUNDAY, Oct. 24: Dodgers at Braves 7:30 p.m. (ET) if needed
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