Expect a Pitchers’ Duel in Game 2 of the NLCS

The Atlanta Braves struck first in the National League Championship Series, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are primed for a bounce-back as the teams resume hostilities Tuesday in Game 2 at Arlington’s Globe Life Park. The Braves rolled to a 5-1 victory in the series opener and have now allowed just six total runs in the first six games of their postseason run.

Editor’s Note: Clayton Kershaw has been scratched from his scheduled Game 2 start due to back spasms. The Dodgers will start right-hander Tony Gonsolin in his place.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Dodgers opened as -175 favorites, but those odds are now in the -155 to -165 range at most sportsbooks; the Braves can largely be found between +140 and +145. The total started at 8 but has slipped to 7.5 just about everywhere.

Starting Pitchers Analysis

Braves rookie right-hander Ian Anderson (3-2, 1.95 ERA) was sensational during the regular season, racking up 41 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. He has been even more sensational during the Braves’ playoff streak, throwing 11.2 shutout innings while allowing just five hits and striking out 17. He has surrendered just one home run over 44 innings in 2020.

The Dodgers’ Game 2 starter is no slouch, either. Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2.16 ERA) has allowed just three earned runs over 14 innings in his two postseason starts, racking up 19 strikeouts over that span. Current members of the Atlanta roster own a .228/.256/.327 slash line in 164 at-bats against Kershaw, with just two home runs and a whopping 47 strikeouts.

Atlanta News & Notes

In a series that will likely be decided by the bullpens, the Braves earned an emphatic victory in Monday’s NLCS opener. After starter Max Fried provided six sensational innings for Atlanta, a trio of relievers followed with three perfect innings – allowing the Braves to break the game wide open with a four-run ninth inning fueled by home runs from Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies.

So what can Atlanta do to seize a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven? Offense will be key, with the Braves fortunate to have gotten away with going just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10 men on base. Baserunners could be scarce against Kershaw, who boasted an unbelievable 0.84 WHIP in 58.1 regular-season innings.

Los Angeles News & Notes

Dominance on the mound will only go so far if you can’t score – and the Dodgers might be facing a mini crisis in that regard after managing just four hits in Game 1. The Braves have already posted four shutouts in the postseason while Los Angeles has hit just three home runs so far in the playoffs (including Enrique Hernandez’s solo shot that provided the Dodgers’ lone Game 1 run).

Will the drought continue? It isn’t likely given that the Dodgers led the majors in runs scored during the regular season and are averaging more than five runs per game in the postseason. The lack of homers feels like a significant fluke given that each of the other three teams to have reached the League Championship Series have belted at least 10 home runs to date.

Betting Pick: UNDER 7.5 (-110)

This one has all the makings of a pitchers’ duel – and could be the final time we see a game total above 7 given how both teams have played so far this postseason.