The Braves made a seriously gutsy call, opting *not* to start ace Chris Sale in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers, and man, did that gamble pay off big time. Now, Atlanta is back home at Truist Park tonight for Game 3, with the former NL Cy Young winner finally on the mound. They are in a prime spot to take a 2-1 series lead against the two-time defending World Series champions.
The Game 2 Gambit That Shocked L.A.
So, here’s the deal: Sale had pitched 1.1 innings of late relief, throwing 21 pitches, to close out Game 3 of the Wild-Card Round against Philadelphia. That meant a start on Sunday in Game 2 would have put him on just three days’ rest. That was the tentative plan, sure, but Braves manager Walt Weiss decided to pump the brakes. He chose to “err on the side of giving him rest,” pulling a total curveball and going with a bullpen game on Sunday at Dodger Stadium instead. Weiss straight up said, “At the end of the day, we want full-strength Chris Sale. …. Not sure you’re getting the best version of him pitching [Sunday]. We’re certain we will pitching him Game 3.” Talk about a vote of confidence, right?
Why Weiss’s Bet Paid Off for Atlanta
And honestly, it couldn’t have worked out better for Atlanta. They snagged a tight 3-2 victory in Game 2. Weiss masterfully cycled through six different pitchers, holding the Dodgers to a brutal 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Their opener, Ray Kerr, even recorded just three fewer outs than L.A.’s two-time Cy Young winner, Blake Snell. You can pull off that kind of bullpen magic when you’ve got those frequent days off between games in the postseason. That Game 2 win was huge, snapping Atlanta’s seven-game road postseason losing streak, which was tied for the second-longest active in the majors. Their last away win was a clincher, too.
Tonight, it’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Chris Sale in what feels like a “first one to a run wins” kind of matchup. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET on FS1, and the weather looks perfect: sunny skies, a high of 76 degrees, and winds blowing in at about 8 mph. Even with the series line still favoring L.A. at -150 and the Braves at +125, you can feel the momentum shifting. Tonight’s game is a pick’em on the money line, but L.A. is still drawing 56% of the handle and 66% of the wagers. The total of 6, a postseason first, is seeing split action. It’s anyone’s game, but I’m telling you, it feels like this series is going all five.
What happens tonight is monumental. A 2-1 series lead changes everything for Atlanta. But don’t expect the same frequent days off before Game 4. This is it for the Braves to grab this advantage at home with Sale locked and loaded.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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