The Los Angeles Dodgers just became the first team to officially punch their ticket beyond the Division Series, sending the Atlanta Braves packing with a decisive 4-1 win in Game 4 of the NLDS on Wednesday night. Shohei Ohtani and his crew are not messing around, continuing their relentless march towards what they hope will be a third consecutive World Series title. You heard that right, *third straight*.
Ohtani’s Dodgers Show No Mercy, Braves Can’t Keep Up
Atlanta actually got on the board first, with Michael Harris II scoring on a wild pitch from Tyler Glasnow in the bottom of the first. But the Dodgers, man, they’re built different. They fired right back in the top of the second. A couple of costly errors from Sean Murphy and Mauricio Dubón let Ohtani cruise around the bases and tie things up at 1-1. Both teams locked down for the next four innings, but then L.A. dropped the hammer in the seventh. With the bases juiced and two outs, Andy Pages ripped a single to grab a 3-1 lead. Max Muncy put the cherry on top in the ninth, launching a solo homer to right field. The Braves went down in order, and just like that, the Dodgers are in the NLCS for the third consecutive year. They’re clearly on a mission, and the rest of the National League needs to figure out how to stop this freight train. They’re just waiting now, to see if it’s the Milwaukee Brewers or the San Diego Padres joining them.
ALDS Heats Up As Guardians Stay Alive
Over in the American League, things are still wild. The Cleveland Guardians refused to let their season die, battling hard for a huge 9-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox in Game 3 of their ALDS. That keeps their hopes alive, pushing the series forward. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees were facing down a brutal series sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. You gotta wonder if they can pull it together and force another game, or if Tampa Bay is just too hot right now.
What’s Next In The Playoff Picture
The intensity isn’t letting up. Thursday, October 8, sees the Guardians in Chicago for Game 4 at 5 p.m. ET. If needed, the Rays are back in New York for Game 4 at 8 p.m. ET. Looking ahead, Friday, October 9, could see Game 5 between San Diego and Milwaukee at 8 p.m. ET, if that series goes the distance. Saturday, October 10, has potential Game 5s for Chicago at Cleveland (5 p.m. ET) and New York at Tampa Bay (8 p.m. ET). It’s win or go home for a lot of teams, and every pitch, every at-bat, every play just keeps getting bigger.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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