Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves – 2020 NLCS Game 3

Can the Atlanta Braves take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers? Surprisingly, the red-hot Braves, who have yet to lose in the playoffs, could do just that, as their 8-7 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday now has them up by two games over the heavily favored Dodgers.

This was a wild affair that saw Atlanta take a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, but Los Angeles battled back for three runs. The Braves added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and that would, surprisingly, prove to be the game-winner, as the Dodgers scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning before Atlanta was able to close it out.

Oddsmakers do not give Atlanta much of a chance in this game, as Los Angeles comes in a heavy favorite at -190. Even giving up the 1.5 runs, they still our favorite at -120.

After 15 runs were scored in Game 2, the total gets a big jump to 9.5 runs. This comes after it was set at only 7.5 runs for Game 2.

This is desperation time for the Dodgers. They simply cannot go down 3-0 to Atlanta and expect to come back and win the series. There is no doubt that Los Angeles has the deeper lineup and bench, but they are getting outplayed right now.

Clayton Kershaw did not get the start in Game 2 and the bullpen was forced to put in 4.2 innings of relief. They were scored upon for the third straight game, as the group is no longer as formidable as they were through the first four games of the postseason.

Now it will be the task of left-hander Julio Urias to change the Dodgers fortunes. The left-hander finished the regular season 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA and is 2-0 with no runs allowed in two relief appearances in the postseason. Urias allowed one run in five innings in his last outing, striking out six against San Diego.

Atlanta counters with right-hander Kyle Wright. Wright struggled during the regular season, going 2-4 with a 5.21 ERA, but he looked very good in his one postseason start. Wright went six innings, allowing three hits and no runs while striking out seven against Miami Marlins.

Atlanta has to be a little concerned about their bullpen as well. After Ian Anderson gave the team four shutout innings to start the game, the bullpen imploded over the final three innings, allowing eight hits and seven runs, including two home runs.

This is crunch time for Los Angeles. They have the better starter on the hill and are in a situation where they simply must win. This kind of pressure is when heroes are made. It is also when teams knuckle under to that pressure, letting every pitch become almost life-threatening.

Atlanta has found a way to limit Los Angeles and that potent lineup all series long. Even with the Dodgers scoring seven runs late, they still lost. This has to be getting into the heads of the Dodgers players right now, and I see that is a huge factor in Game 3. If oddsmakers are giving Atlanta 1.5 runs in this game, I say take it.

Atlanta wins to take a 3-0 series lead, 5-3.