With home field advantage and one win standing between them and the World Series, Atlanta enters tonight’s game against the Dodgers with the momentum.
As we enter Game 6 of the NLCS, we already know who’s representing the American League in the World Series. The Houston Astros clinched the AL Pennant last night with a 5-0 shutout of the Red Sox. It was quite a turnaround.
At the start of play Tuesday, Boston led the ALCS two games to one. But it didn’t matter. The Astros came back and won the next three games in a row to advance.
Houston has had a remarkable run the past several years. This marks the third time in five years that they’ve reached the World Series.
On the NL side, the Dodgers avoided elimination on Thursday by delivering an 11-2 blowout. Using an opener/bullpen game pitching strategy, LA was able to hold Atlanta’s lineup in check. Starter Max Fried put the Braves in a hole early by allowing five runs in 4.2 innings. AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor powered the Dodgers offense, with two and three home runs, respectively.
As things currently stand, the Braves have a 3-2 lead in the NLCS. It would be quite an upset if they put away the Dodgers. With tonight’s game taking place in Atlanta, they’ve got a chance to clinch the NL Pennant at home.
Today’s schedule:
Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves, NLCS Game 6
8:08 PM ET, TBS
Max Scherzer was originally scheduled to start this game for the Dodgers, but he’s been scratched in favor of Walker Buehler. Los Angeles hasn’t provided an explanation, but sources told MLB.com that Scherzer has a tired arm.
At just 26 years of age, Walker Buehler was a force for the Dodgers during the regular season. He threw more than 200 innings with a 2.47 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 9.2 SO/9, and a WHIP below one.
He’s made three starts this postseason, allowing eight runs (six earned) in 14.1 innings. He will be pitching tonight on short rest.
The Braves will send 23-year-old right-hander Ian Anderson to the mound tonight. This year was his sophomore season in the bigs, and he compiled a 9-5 record, 3.58 ERA, 4.12 FIP, and 1.23 WHIP in 128.1 innings. With 124 K’s in the regular season, he was just shy of averaging a strikeout-per-inning.
Anderson has two postseason starts under his belt this year. He threw five scoreless innings against the Brewers in the NLDS, but didn’t last too long recently. Facing the Dodgers on October 17, he was pulled after giving up two runs in three innings.
Dodgers lineup
- Mookie Betts RF
- Corey Seager SS
- Trea Turner 2B
- Will Smith C
- Chris Taylor LF
- Cody Bellinger 1B
- AJ Pollack LF
- Matt Beatty 1B
- Walker Buehler P
Braves lineup
- Eddie Rosario LF
- Freddie Freeman 1B
- Ozzie Albies 2B
- Austin Riley 3B
- Adam Duvall CF
- Joc Pederson RF
- Dansby Swanson SS
- Travis d’Arnaud C
- Ian Anderson P