Yoshinobu Yamamoto is stepping onto the mound for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at Truist Park in Atlanta, and for Dodgers fans, it’s gotta feel like everything’s on the line. The series is locked at 1-1 against the Braves, which means this isn’t like last year when he took a Game 3 loss with his team already up 2-0. Nope, this is a real pressure cooker, with the Dodgers facing Chris Sale, who can sometimes feel like trying to hit a chainsaw.
Yamamoto’s Road Warrior Stats Don’t Lie
Yamamoto has been an absolute beast in the postseason, especially when he’s on the road. Over the last two postseasons, across four starts and one relief appearance away from home, the guy has given up just five total runs in 31 innings. That’s insane. He’s punched out 30 batters while walking only four. The Dodgers won all five of those road games, and Yamamoto personally racked up the win in all four of his road starts during the 2025 postseasons. Overall, the Dodgers are a ridiculous 9-1 in the ten postseason games he’s appeared in. The only hiccup? That Game 3 loss in last year’s NLDS at Dodger Stadium, but like we said, that was when they were already cruising with a 2-0 series lead. This one is different; this series is tied.
History Shows Game 3 Is Absolutely Critical
This isn’t new territory for the Dodgers, not exactly. This marks the ninth time in 14 years that their best-of-five Division Series has been tied after two games. So, how’d they do in those Game 3s? The home team took six out of eight of them, which is a good sign for Atlanta right now. And here’s the kicker: the team that won Game 3 only went on to win the whole series four out of eight times. Talk about high stakes!
Looking back at their Game 3s in tied series since 2013, the Dodgers have seen it all:
- 2013 NLDS vs. Braves in Los Angeles: Dodgers won Game 3, won series 4-0
- 2014 NLDS vs. Cardinals in St. Louis: Cardinals won Game 3, won series 4-0
- 2015 NLDS vs. Mets in New York: Mets won Game 3, won series 3-2
- 2016 NLDS vs. Nationals in Washington DC: Nationals won Game 3, Dodgers won series 3-2
- 2017 World Series vs. Astros in Houston: Astros won Game 3, won series 4-3
- 2018 NLCS vs. Brewers in Los Angeles: Brewers won Game 3, Dodgers won series 4-3
- 2019 NLDS vs. Nationals in Washington DC: Dodgers won Game 3, Nationals won series 3-2
- 2020 World Series vs. Rays in Arlington, Texas: Dodgers won Game 3, won series 4-2
- 2021 NLDS vs. Giants in Los Angeles: Giants won Game 3, Dodgers won series 3-2
- 2022 NLDS vs. Padres in San Diego: Padres won Game 3, won series 3-1
- 2024 NLDS vs. Padres in San Diego: Padres won Game 3, Dodgers won series 3-2
- 2024 NLCS vs. Mets in New York: Dodgers won Game 3, won series 4-2
- 2025 World Series vs. Blue Jays in Los Angeles: Dodgers won Game 3, won series 4-3
What’s Next: Game 3 in Atlanta
This is it, folks. Game 3 for the #2 seed Dodgers against the #3 seed Braves, with the series tied 1-1. It all goes down at Truist Park in Atlanta, starting at 3:08 p.m. You can catch the action on FS1, with Joe Davis, John Smoltz, and Ken Rosenthal on the call. Or, if you’re like me and love some radio drama, tune into ESPN Radio with Dave O’Brien and Jessica Mendoza. This game could easily swing the momentum for the rest of the series. Can Yamamoto continue his road magic and put the Dodgers in control? We’re about to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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