The Atlanta Braves (3-1) have pushed the Los Angeles Dodgers (1-3) to the brink of elimination tonight, but they’ll have to win on the road if they hope to punch their ticket to the NLCS. Game 5 of the NLCS kicks off at 7:08 CT and you can watch it on TBS.
Now let’s talk about the matchup.
For their big game tonight, the Braves are handing the ball to southpaw Max Fried, who has already made two very good starts this October, including a 6.0 IP, 2ER effort against the Dodgers in Game 1. Los Angeles did manage to scatter eight hits in that matchup with Fried, but with no free passes and five strikeouts, they just couldn’t do much damage. The Dodgers lineup tonight looks pretty similar to game 1, but with Justin Turner still out, Cody Bellinger slides in, pushing Chris Taylor from center to third. Bellinger is just one of two lefties in there against Fried tonight.
By contrast, the Dodgers are rolling with a full-on bullpen game, opening things up with Joe Kelly, who’s expected to be followed by Corey Knebel. There’s no planned long-man tonight, and you can bet the Dodgers will empty the tank with elimination on the line. It should be a good one. Go Braves. Go baseball.
Broadcast Info
First Pitch:Â 7:08 PM (CT)
TV:Â TBS
Radio: ESPN 1000
Starting Pitching Matchup
Max Fried (LHP) – 2021: 3.04 ERA (3.49 FIP)
vs.
Joe Kelly (RHP) – 2021: 2.86 ERA (3.27 FIP)
Starting Lineups
Atlanta Braves:
1. Eddie Rosario, LF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Austin Riley, 3B
5. Adam Duvall, CF
6. Joc Pederson, RF
7. Dansby Swanson, SS
8. Travis d’Arnaud, C
9. Max Fried, P
Los Angeles Dodgers:
1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Trea Turner, 2B
3. Corey Seager, SS
4. Will Smith, C
5. AJ Pollock, LF
6. Albert Pujols, 1B
7. Chris Taylor, 3B
8. Cody Bellinger, CF
9. Joe Kelly, P