Braves Face Elimination as Dodgers Seek NLCS Berth in Game 4 NLDS Showdown

The Atlanta Braves face elimination for the second time in less than a week as they host the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday night at Truist Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on FS1 and FOX One.

After the teams split the first two games in Los Angeles, the Dodgers took a 2-1 series lead with a victory in Game 3 on Monday. A win Wednesday sends Los Angeles to its third straight National League Championship Series. For Atlanta, a victory forces a winner-take-all Game 5 back in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Por que importa

“All these games have been close,” Braves outfielder Michael Harris II said. “So just trust our stuff, trust who’s on the mound and go out there and get some runs for [starter Tyler Mahle], so we can have a chance to go back to L.A.”

Pitching Matchup: Mahle vs. Glasnow

The Braves will turn to right-hander Tyler Mahle, who has been a revelation since being acquired from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline. After posting a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts with the Giants, Mahle recorded a 1.28 ERA in his first eight starts for Atlanta. He finished the regular season with a 1.99 ERA over his final nine starts overall.

Contexto

Mahle made his postseason debut in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing just one run over seven innings. His turnaround has been fueled by a shift in pitch usage, cutting his cutter usage while increasing his splitter.

The Dodgers counter with Tyler Glasnow, who ranked fourth among MLB starters with an 11.92 strikeouts-per-nine innings rate (minimum 70 innings pitched). Glasnow was limited to 13 regular-season starts due to a back injury but finished strong with back-to-back quality starts featuring double-digit strikeouts.

Que sigue

Glasnow worked in a hybrid role during last year’s postseason, posting a 1.69 ERA in six appearances, and is expected to start in a traditional role this October. The Dodgers won every postseason game he appeared in last year, including Game 7 of the World Series.

Key facts

Lineup Notes and Injury Concerns

Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. is dealing with a lingering right knee issue that forced him to serve as the designated hitter in Game 3. He is expected to DH again in Game 4, which limits manager Walt Weiss’s flexibility. With Acuña at DH, catcher Sean Murphy cannot start, and Drake Baldwin remains behind the plate. That also forces Mauricio Dubón into the outfield and Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop. Kim is 1-for-30 dating back to Sept. 12.

For the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani continues to manage right biceps and left knee injuries, and Freddie Freeman is playing through a right knee issue. Shortstop Miguel Rojas exited Game 3 with lower back pain and is unlikely to start. Manager Dave Roberts may keep Ohtani lower in the lineup after moving him down in Game 3, as Ohtani has not looked sharp at the plate this series, hitting .200.

The Dodgers are expected to revert to a more typical lineup against a right-handed starter, with Mookie Betts leading off and Freeman hitting second.

Bullpen Availability and Series Context

Both bullpens should be well-rested. The Braves have their full relief corps available, including high-leverage arms Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and closer Raisel Iglesias. Right-hander Didier Fuentes threw 47 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in Game 2 but could be available for limited work.

The Dodgers used only top leverage arms Tanner Scott and Edwin Díaz to close out Game 3 after starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto covered seven innings. Both are available, along with six other relievers, as Los Angeles looks to close out the series.

The Braves are without right-hander Bryce Elder (right knee surgery) and left-hander Martín Pérez (lower back discomfort) for this series. Both could return if Atlanta advances to the NLCS.

What’s at Stake

For the Braves, this is a familiar position. They won a winner-take-all Wild Card Series game against the Phillies last week to reach this round. Now they need to win two straight games against the Dodgers to reach the NLCS.

For Los Angeles, a win Wednesday punches a ticket to a third consecutive championship series appearance. The Dodgers have been the more consistent offensive team through three games, with Kyle Tucker (.333), Freeman (.364) and Betts (.300) leading the way. Atlanta has relied heavily on Harris, who is hitting .375 with three extra-base hits this postseason.

The game will be decided by whether Mahle can continue his remarkable second-half run and whether Atlanta’s struggling bats — Baldwin (.130), Acuña (.143) and Matt Olson (.174) — can find traction against Glasnow and the Dodgers bullpen.

Source: MLB Official News RSS – https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-vs-braves-nlds-game-4-starting-lineups-and-pitching-matchup