Dodgers Aim to Build on Game 2 Rally

Game 2 turned out to be a little close for Atlanta’s comfort, but the Braves held on to take a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Atlanta enters Game 3 fresh off a wild 8-7 victory over L.A. but is the underdog yet again vs a Dodgers team that ended Tuesday’s defeat with an offensive flourish.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Dodgers opened the betting as -161 favorites but have since been bet up to between -175 and -185; Atlanta started out at +148 but can be found as high as +163. The total has risen a half-point to 9.5 at the majority of sportsbooks.

Starting Pitchers Analysis

Braves starter Kyle Wright (2-4, 5.21 ERA) struggled during the regular season but was effective in his only previous postseason start, holding the Miami Marlins to three hits over six scoreless innings while striking out seven in a 7-0 whitewash. His righty/lefty splits are dramatic, with right-handed hitters slashing .197/.296/.338 and lefties putting up a .288/.402/.521 line.

The Dodgers counter with southpaw Julio Urias (3-0, 3.27 ERA), who has been nearly unhittable so far in the playoffs. Urias blanked Milwaukee and San Diego, compiling 11 strikeouts while allowing just four hits over eight scoreless innings. He last faced the Braves in 2019, tossing four scoreless innings while recording a pair of saves in two appearances.

Atlanta News & Notes

Not having to face Clayton Kershaw (who was scratched from his Game 2 start with a back injury) didn’t help the Braves at all through the first three innings, with replacement starter Tony Gonsolin throwing three perfect frames to start the game. But Atlanta erupted for two runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth, then held on to improve to 7-0 in the 2020 postseason.

We’re not in the business of handing out NLCS MVP awards after two games, but it’s impossible to deny that Freddie Freeman has the early lead. Freeman homered in the series opener and went deep again in Game 2, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs. The first baseman, who batted .341 with 13 homers and 53 RBIs during the regular season, is 0-for-2 lifetime against Urias.

Los Angeles News & Notes

The Dodgers’ outburst came up one run short, but they have to be pleased with how they were able to make a dent in Atlanta’s impressive bullpen. Los Angeles put up six runs on nine hits against six Braves relievers, and has scored 31 runs over its past five games – looking more like the team that put up a league-high 349 regular-season runs (one more than Atlanta).

So is there room for even more improvement? There certainly is – especially from star third baseman Justin Turner, who has struggled for the majority of the postseason. Turner went 1-for-5 in the Game 2 loss and has just four hits – all singles – in 27 playoff at-bats, good for a pitiful .148 slugging percentage. He has never faced Wright in his major-league career.

Betting Pick: Dodgers -175

The Dodgers haven’t shaken the books’ faith – and you should stick with them as well, especially considering how they fared against the Braves bullpen in Game 2. If they can’t beat Wright, they aren’t winning this series.