Dodgers NLDS – Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s postseason mastery has put the Dodgers one win away from the NLCS after a decisive victory over Chris Sale and the Braves.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto stared down Atlanta ace Chris Sale and didn’t blink. delivering a performance that has the Los Angeles Dodgers standing just one victory away from the National League Championship Series. With a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. the Dodgers now look toward Wednesday night’s Game 4. aiming to keep their streak toward a third consecutive World Series title alive.
Yamamoto, already solidified as the MVP of the 2025 World Series, improved his postseason record to a remarkable 8-1. He stifled the Atlanta offense all night, surrendering only four hits and a single walk. The Braves’ attempt to lean on a rested Sale backfired; the veteran ace struggled through five innings. allowing three runs on seven hits.
The game turned in the fourth inning. After Mauricio Dubón’s spectacular leaping catch robbed Freddie Freeman of a home run in the third. Freeman responded by sending a solo shot into the seats in the fourth. That blast followed a two-run home run from Hernández, which scored Andy Pages after his single. For the Dodgers, those three runs proved more than enough.
Manager Dave Roberts had maneuvered his lineup specifically for this matchup, dropping Shohei Ohtani to the No. 5 spot to capitalize on potential traffic on the basepaths. The plan created opportunities, but Ohtani found limited success against the Atlanta staff. He struck out against Sale in the first. reached on a catcher’s interference by Drake Baldwin in the third. and walked in the eighth against reliever Brent Suter. Ohtani finished his night without a hit, but the bottom of the lineup provided the necessary spark.
Atlanta’s lone run came in the fifth, when a bases-loaded grounder from Baldwin brought home Dubón. The Braves threatened again in the ninth when Ozzie Albies hammered a double off the wall against Edwin Díaz. Albies advanced to third on a groundout. but the rally died there; Mauricio Dubón fouled out and Mike Yastrzemski grounded out to Mookie Betts at shortstop to seal the win.
Concern lingers for Los Angeles regarding second baseman Miguel Rojas, who exited the game in the eighth inning with lower back pain after a swing. His status for the remainder of the series remains uncertain.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, the Braves turn to right-hander Tyler Mahle, who insists his recent abdominal pull is a “non-issue” after a seven-inning outing against Philadelphia last week. He will face Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow as Atlanta fights to force a deciding fifth game.
Dodgers Braves NLDS Yoshinobu Yamamoto MLB playoffs Chris Sale Shohei Ohtani