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Dodgers-Braves NLDS Game 4: Dodgers top Braves, head to NLCS to take on Brewers

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Manny Machado’s three-run homer has given the Dodgers a commanding lead. David Freese, acquired for moments like this, had a two-out pinch-hit two-run single in the top of the sixth to put the Dodgers ahead, 3-2, in the top of the sixth. If the Dodgers win, they advance to the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee. Lose and they return home to face the Braves in a decisive Game 5 on Wednesday. Join us here for live in-game updates and pre-game and post-game news and videos from our crew of reporters: Andy McCullough, Bill Plaschke, Dylan Hernandez, Jorge Castillo, Houston Mitchell and Mark Potts.

Dodgers beat Braves and advance to NLCS to take on Brewers

Manny Machado, second from left, celebrates his three-run home run with teammate Matt Kemp.
(Scott Cunningham / Getty Images)

Baseball is not predicated on violence. The sport revolves around grace and grit, subtlety and subterfuge, deception and dexterity. The game does not celebrate the brutal.

Yet there is no other way to describe what transpired in the seventh inning on Monday: Manny Machado committed a violent act against a baseball, unleashing all his frustration and force on a 95-mph fastball, launching a concussive, three-run homer that solidified the Dodgers’ capture of the National League Division Series with a 6-2 victory in Game 4 over the Braves.

The blast stunned SunTrust Park and delighted the Dodgers. Inside the dugout, Rich Hill gasped. Clayton Kershaw skipped. Cody Bellinger held his arms aloft. Machado popped a wad of Dubble Bubble before rounding the bases. A parade of hitters flowed up the steps to greet him.

“Get that money,” Joc Pederson cried. “Get that money.”

Over the winter, when Machado dives into free agency, his net worth will expand. For now, he still can play a prominent role in the Dodgers’ pursuit of a championship. For the fourth time in six seasons, the team will compete in the National League Championship Series. Milwaukee hosts Game 1 on Friday.

To get there, the Dodgers bullied a youthful Braves team. They rebounded from a shaky outing by Walker Buehler in Game 3 to finish the job on Monday. David Freese supplied a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning. Machado unloaded on Braves reliever Chad Sobotka an inning later to pad the lead.

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Kenta Maeda creates and escapes bases-loaded jam in eighth

BOTTOM OF EIGHTH: Kenta Maeda pitching. Camargo struck out swinging. Flowers grounded to third. Inciarte singled to center. Culberson singled to right, Inciarte to third. Lucas Duda, batting for the pitcher, hit a long foul ball that the crowd tried to wish fair for a home run. Then he flied to center and Bellinger held up the ball to show the fans to get them to stop that tomahawk chop.

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Dodgers don’t score in top of eighth

TOP OF EIGHTH: Matt Kemp, batting for Ferguson, grounded to third. Pederson singled to right-center and was thrown out attempting to stretch it into a double. Turner grounded to second. DODGERS 6, BRAVES 2

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Dodgers lead 6-2 after seven

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: Pedro Baez stays on the mound. Albies grounded to second. Caleb Ferguson comes in to pitch to the left-handed Freeman. Freeman grounded to third. Markakis lined to center. DODGERS 6, BRAVES 2.

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Dodgers take 6-2 lead on Manny Machado’s three-run shot

TOP OF SEVENTH: Chad Sobotka pitching. Turner singled to right. Muncy walked. Machado homered to left. It’s now 6-2 Dodgers. Grandal grounded to second. Hernandez walked. Julio Teheran now pitching. Bellinger struck out swinging. Puig struck out swinging. DODGERS 6, BRAVES 2

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Dodgers lead Braves 3-2 after six innings

BOTTOM OF SIXTH: Pedro Baez now pitching. Culberson popped to second. Ryan Flaherty, batting for Fried, popped to third. Acuna flied to left. DODGERS 3, BRAVES 2

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Dodgers take 3-2 lead, thanks to David Freese

TOP OF SIXTH: Grandal flied to center. Hernandez singled to left. Bellinger grounded to second, forcing Hernandez. Puig singled to right, Bellinger to third. David Freese, hitting for Madson. Right-hander Brad Brach replaces Venters. Puig stole second. Freese singled to center, scoring both runners. Maybe they should give Freese the big contract in the off-season and not Machado. He loves October baseball. Dodgers lead, 3-2. Left-hander Max Fried replaces Brach. Pederson lined to third.

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Ryan Madson escapes bases-loaded jam in bottom of fifth

BOTTOM OF FIFTH: Albies popped to second. Freeman singled to third on a play Turner should have made. Markakis walked. Camargo grounded to short, but everyone is safe thanks to Machado’s error. Great series by Machado so far. I’d rather have Curtis Granderson back. And that will be it for Rich Hill. His defense and a tight strike zone betrayed him today. Ryan Madson is now pitching. He gets Flowers to pop to the catcher and Inciarte to pop to short. Great pitching by Madson to leave the bases loaded. BRAVES 2, DODGERS 1.

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Dodgers still trail, 2-1, after top of fifth

TOP OF FIFTH: Jonny Venters now pitching for the Braves. Pederson struck out swinging. Turner walked. Muncy grounded to short, forcing Turner at second. Machado grounded to second. BRAVES 2, DODGERS 1.

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Braves take 2-1 lead in fourth inning

BOTTOM OF FOURTH: Camargo walked. That’s seven walks in this game in 3+ innings. The plate umpire must be getting paid for each walk. Flowers walked. That’s eight walks. Inciarte sacrificed. Runners on second and third, one out. Culberson grounded to third, runners holding. Atlanta rolls the dice and has Kurt Suzuki hit for Foltynewicz. And it pays off. Suzuki singles to left-center, scoring both runners. Acuna grounded to third. Now, can the Atlanta bullpen keep the Dodgers from scoring for the next five innings? BRAVES 2, DODGERS 1.

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Dodgers still lead, 1-0, after top of fourth

TOP OF FOURTH: Grandal popped to third. Hernandez grounded to short. Bellinger walked. Foltynewicz isn’t pleased with the strike zone either. With Puig batting, Bellinger stole second. Odd play, because now Atlanta walks Puig intentionally to bring Hill to the plate. Hill fouled off three 96-mph fastballs and two 90-mph sliders before striking out swinging. Impressive at-bat by Hill. DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers strand two in second as umpire squeezes strike zone

BOTTOM OF THIRD: Foltynewicz struck out looking. Acuna struck out looking. Albies singled to second. Freeman walked. Rich Hill is not pleased with the plate umpire, who apparently believes the strike zone should be the size of a matchbox. Markakis popped to third. 44 pitches through three innings for Hill. DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers go down quietly in top of third

TOP OF THIRD: Turner flied to center. Muncy struck out swinging. Machado lined to center. Quick inning for Foltynewicz. DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers lead, 1-0, after two

BOTTOM OF SECOND: Tyler Flowers popped to first. Umpire is really squeezing the zone. Ender Inciarte grounded to first. Charlie Culberson, who is one for eight in the series, struck out swinging. DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers strand two in top of second

TOP OF SECOND: Enrique Hernandez flied to right. Cody Bellinger walked. Yasiel Puig singled to left, Bellinger to second. Foltynewicz does not have good stuff so far today. Appears a bit nervous. Rich Hill sacrificed. Pederson struck out swinging. I think Foltynewicz heard me say he was nervous. DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0.

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Braves don’t score in first

BOTTOM OF FIRST: Ronald Acuna Jr. lined to second. Ozzie Albies flied to center. Freddie Freeman singled to center. This plate umpire has a tight strike zone, which is usually not good for Hill. Nick Markakis walked. First and second, two out. Johan Camargo fouled to first. Considering he gave up a walk and a hit, Hill got through that inning in an economical 14 pitches. DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers take 1-0 lead on Manny Machado’s double

NLDS Game 4. Dodgers vs. Braves. Rich Hill vs. Mike Foltynewicz. Pull up a chair and spend the afternoon with us.

TOP OF FIRST: Joc Pederson struck out swinging. Justin Turner lined to center. Max Muncy walked. Manny Machado, making up for that horrible strike out last night, doubled to left, Muncy scoring. Yasmani Grandal struck out swinging. Now the question is: Do we get the dominant Rich Hill or the one who struggles? DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0.

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Here is the Game 4 starting lineup for the Braves

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Here is the Game 4 lineup for the Dodgers

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Clayton Kershaw will get the Game 5 start, if necessary

Clayton Kershaw pitches in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

If the Dodgers have their way, they will finish off the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on Monday and shift their focus to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. But a winner-take-all Game 5 in Los Angeles on Wednesday is a possibility. And if it happens, Clayton Kershaw, who was bypassed for Game 1, would start the game, manager Dave Roberts announced Monday.

“It was pretty simple,” Roberts said. “I think that we had our reasons why we decided on Game 1 versus Game 2. But if there’s a potential Game 5, we feel very confident that Clayton should be the guy taking the baseball.”

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Rich Hill will start against Braves in Monday’s NLDS Game 4

Rich Hill
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Rich Hill began Sunday unsure whether he would pitch the next day or in nine days. The Dodgers left-hander’s fate depended on the Game 3’s result.

A Dodgers sweep and he would likely not start until Game 4 of the National League Championship Series scheduled for Oct.16, which would’ve meant a 16-day layoff. A Braves win and he’d be on the mound for Game 4 Monday afternoon at SunTrust Park with a berth in the National League Championship Series within reach.

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Braves send Dodgers pitcher Wood to the Chop House

Dodgers reliever Alex Wood comes out of the game after giving up the go-ahead run to the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning on Sunday.
Dodgers reliever Alex Wood comes out of the game after giving up the go-ahead run to the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The first home run Alex Wood gave up to a left-handed hitter this season was blasted off the bat of Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman and landed a few rows beyond the right-field wall, feet from the Chop House, in the sixth inning Sunday night at SunTrust Park. In almost any other scenario it would’ve been an inconsequential blip, one even the best pitchers occasionally encounter when they face All-Star sluggers.

But Sunday was Game 3 of the National League Division Series and the score was tied with the Dodgers vying for a three-game series sweep. The stage was big and the margin for error was slim. So the first-pitch breaking ball that hung until Freeman’s lumber connected and launched it into orbit was a costly mistake. The solo home run was the difference in the Braves’ season-saving 6-5 victory.

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Brewers sweep the Rockies in 6-0 win to return to the NLCS for the first time since 2011

Milwaukee Brewers' Keon Broxton celebrates after hitting a solo homerun in the ninth inning.
(Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)

The skies were gray. Rain was on the way. An eerie silence had fallen upon the grounds. This was the kind of foreboding you get in a bad novel.

But the performance of the home team had been so futile that a fan felt compelled to heckle his Colorado Rockies, with a voice that rang out loud and clear: “You’re playing the Brewers, for Christ’s sake!”

That was mere minutes after Jesus had hit a home run for the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Did you think the Dodgers were suddenly a changed team just because the playoffs started?

Manny Machado looks on in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves during Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
Manny Machado looks on in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves during Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

Manny Machado didn’t smile or scowl. He slipped on a yellow designer shirt and nonchalantly shrugged.

“It’s a baseball game,” he said.

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Dodgers’ Buehler loses his focus against the Braves but not his confidence

Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler can only watch as Ronald Acuna Jr. hits a grand slam in the second inning on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

As the game was slowly collapsing around his young shoulders Sunday night, debris piling up, chanting fans closing in, Walker Buehler turned to his puzzled infielders with one last show of his renowned confidence.

“We’re fine,” he shouted.

Only this time, he wasn’t. Only this time, his words drifted into the thick air and disappeared into the hostile night.

This time, the kid with everything had nothing.

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Dodgers fail to put away Braves in Game 3; series lead now 2-1

The Dodgers' Matt Kemp is tagged out by Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki in the sixth inning on Sunday.
The Dodgers’ Matt Kemp is tagged out by Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki in the sixth inning on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Justin Turner slipped off his helmet as red fireworks burst above the ballpark. Max Muncy hung his arms over the dugout railing while a techno song from 1999 rattled the rafters of SunTrust Park. Manny Machado had already disappeared inside the clubhouse, where the Dodgers gathered to lick their wounds after a 6-5 defeat by Atlanta in Game 3 of the National League Division Series cost them a chance for a sweep.

The game revealed the paradox of the Dodgers offense. The duo of Muncy and Chris Taylor slugged a pair of home runs early in the night, exhibiting enough might to erase a five-run deficit created by rookie starter Walker Buehler. Turner led a brigade of batters who kept innings alive. Yet as the game drifted toward its conclusion, the hitters could not find a lone tally to match a solo home run struck by Braves All-Star Freddie Freeman off Alex Wood in the sixth inning.

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Dodgers fall to Braves, 6-5

TOP OF NINTH: Right-hander Arodys Vizcaino in to pitch. Joc Pederson, batting for Taylor, singled to right. Turner walked. Muncy had a 3-0 count, but Vizcaino struck him out swinging. Machado struck out swinging at a pitch way outside. The ball went to the backstop, allowing Pederson to move to third and Turner to second. Dozier struck out swinging. Great job by Vizcaino in escaping the jam. BRAVES 6, DODGERS 5. Game 4 is Monday at 1:30 p.m. PT.

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Dodgers trail 6-5 heading into the ninth

BOTTOM OF EIGHTH: Scott Alexander pitching. Brian Dozier at second. Freeman grounded to third. Markakis lined to third. Camargo lined to third. Fast inning. Dodgers are down to their final three outs. BRAVES 6, DODGERS 5.

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Dodgers strand two in top of eighth

TOP OF EIGHTH: A.J. Minter pitching for the Braves. Brian Dozier, hitting for Baez, singled to left. Bellinger struck out swinging. Hernandez flied to center. Grandal walked. Puig grounded to short. BRAVES 6, DODGERS 5.

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It’s 6-5 Braves after seven innings

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: Pedro Baez pitching for the Dodgers. Culberson struck out swinging. Lucas Duda, hitting for Sobotka, stuck out swinging. Acuna walked. Inciarte struck out swinging. BRAVES 6, DODGERS 5.

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Dodgers don’t score in top of seventh

TOP OF SEVENTH: Right-hander Chad Sobotka in to pitch. Turner flied to center. Muncy grounded to second. Machado popped to third. BRAVES 6, DODGERS 5

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Freeman’s homer gives Braves 6-5 lead after six

BOTTOM OF SIXTH: Alex Wood pitching for Dodgers. Yasiel Puig to right field. Freddie Freeman homered to right. Nick Markakis grounded to short. Ryan Madson in to pitch. Camargo struck out swinging. Suzuki singled to right. Albies flied to center. BRAVES 6, DODGERS 5.

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Dodgers leave bases loaded in top of sixth

TOP OF THE SIXTH: Touki Toussaint, one of my favorite baseball names of all time, in to pitch for the Braves. Kemp hit a ground-rule double to left. Bellinger grounded to second, Kemp moving to third. The Braves pull the infield in. Hernandez grounded to short, Kemp throw out trying to score. Grandal walked. Runners on first and second, two out. Puig batting for Grandal, Alex Wood up in the bullpen. Puig walked, loading the bases. Taylor, trying to hit the ball from Atlanta back to L.A., grounded to third. DODGERAS 5, BRAVES 5.

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It’s a 5-5 tie after five

BOTTOM OF FIFTH: Ryan Flaherty, batting for the pitcher, grounded to second. Acuna struck out swinging. The crowd is very, very quiet now. Inciarte struck out looking. Buehler has retired 10 in a row. DODGERS 5, BRAVES 5.

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Dodgers tie score in fifth on homers by Taylor and Muncy

TOP OF FIFTH: Grandal walked. When you are leading 5-2, the last thing you want to do is walk a guy. Buehler struck out looking. Taylor homered to left. Dodgers cut the lead to 5-4. Turner grounded to third. Left-hander Max Fried replaces Gausman. Muncy HOMERS TO RIGHT-CENTER. The score is tied. I love his bat drop. Machado flied to left. DODGERS 5, BRAVES 5.

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Still 5-2 Braves after four innings

BOTTOM OF FOURTH: Kurt Suzuki lined to center. Albies flied to center. Charlie Culberson struck out swinging. BRAVES 5, DODGERS 2.

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Dodgers go down quietly in fourth

TOP OF FOURTH: Kemp grounded to short. Bellinger struck out. Hernandez struck out swinging. BRAVES 5, DODGERS 2.

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Braves go down quietly in third

BOTTOM OF THIRD: Freeman grounded to Buehler. Nick Markakis flied to left. Johan Camargo struck out swinging as it appears Buehler has calmed down. It’s easy to forget that he is only 23 and this is his first postseason game. BRAVES 5, DODGERS 2.

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Turner’s hit, Acuna’s error help Dodgers close to 5-2

TOP OF THIRD: Enrique Hernandez walked. Yasmani Grandal lined to center. Buehler sacrificed Hernandez to second. Taylor walked. Newcomb is not sharp tonight, so the Dodgers have a chance to come back. Kevin Gausman, who was originally going to start this game, replaces Newcomb. Justin Turner singled to left. Hernandez scored, and so did Taylor when Ronald Acuna Jr. overran the ball. Turner ends up at second on the play. Max Muncy hits for David Freese and walks. Machado struck out swinging. The Dodgers get two runs. BRAVES 5, DODGERS 2.

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Buehler falls apart in second inning as Braves take 5-0 lead

BOTTOM OF SECOND: Nick Markakis walked on four pitches. Johan Camargo struck out swinging. Kurt Suzuki struck out swinging. That walk seemed to anger young Buehler, who blew balls past both batters. Ozzie Albies singled to center and took second on Bellinger’s error, Markakis to third. Charlie Culberson was walked intentionally. Then Buehler walks the pitcher, Sean Newcomb, giving the Braves their first run of the series. Wow, Buehler’s command fell apart quickly. He seems over-amped for the playoffs. Acuna hit a grand slam. And this game is spiraling out of control. It is 5-0 Braves. Inciarte grounded to second. But the damage is done. BRAVES 5, DODGERS 0

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Dodgers don’t score in top of second

TOP OF SECOND: Manny Machado walked. Matt Kemp grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Cody Bellinger grounded to second. Newcomb looks very good so far, with his four-season fastball reaching 97. But if he relies on just that and a change-up, the Dodgers will figure him out. DODGERS 0, BRAVES 0.

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No score after first inning

BOTTOM OF FIRST: Ronald Acuna Jr. struck out swinging. Took only three pitches. Ender Inciarte flied to center. Freddie Freeman grounded to third. Quick inning for Buehler. DODGERS 0, BRAVES 0

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Dodgers don’t score in top of first

Here we go with Game 3. Walker Buehler vs. Sean Newcomb. Pull up a chair and spend the evening with us.

TOP OF FIRST: Chris Taylor lined to center. Justin Turner singled to right. David Freese grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. DODGERS 0, BRAVES 0.

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Enrique Hernández on why this postseason so special

Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Enrique Hernández explains why these playoffs are the most special he’s been a part of.

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Here’s the Game 3 starting lineup for the Dodgers

With a left-hander on the mound, manager Dave Roberts sends Joc Pederson, Max Muncy and Yasiel Puig to the bench and adds Chris Taylor, David Freese and Matt Kemp to the lineup.

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Walker Buehler on how he approaches pitching in the playoffs

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Dave Roberts on hitting and if the NLDS goes 5 games

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Enrique Hernández on Chase Utley

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Watch Manny Machado surprise birthday boy who caught his home run ball

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Clayton Kershaw pitches Dodgers to 2-0 series lead

Clayton Kershaw pitches in the first inning in Game 2.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Clayton Kershaw ripped a pair of towels off his left arm and hopped off the bench. He scooped up his glove and tucked his sweat-matted hair behind his ear. He spoke to no one as he bounded up the stairs. A roar from the Dodger Stadium faithful greeted Kershaw as he reached a personal milestone at 9:01 p.m. on Friday. For the first time in a playoff career that stretched back to 2008, Kershaw was about to take a start into the ninth inning.

It was all a ruse, a ploy designed to deplete the deficient roster of the Atlanta Braves in a 3-0 victory in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.

The crowd jeered when manager Dave Roberts followed Kershaw out of the dugout. Moments after Braves catcher Tyler Flowers was announced as a pinch-hitter, Roberts pounced. He called upon Kenley Jansen, forcing Atlanta to burn another player to bat in Flowers’ place. The fans showered Kershaw with cheers. Roberts heard only boos when he returned to the dugout.

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Sandy Koufax knows greatness when he sees it

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Dodgers-Braves Game 2 in photos

Dodgers Manny Machado hits a two-run home run against the Braves in the 1st inning .
Dodgers Manny Machado hits a two-run home run against the Braves in the 1st inning .
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Click here to see more photos.

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Dodgers fans celebrate the Game 2 victory

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Dodgers defeat Braves, 3-0

TOP OF THE NINTH: Jansen is pitching. Kershaw got a well-deserved standing ovation.Dave Roberts was booed as he walked back to the dugout. Lucas Duda, batting for the pitcher, grounded to first. Acuna singled to right. Uh oh. Camargo popped to first. That’s better. Freeman struck out swinging. Dodgers win, 3-0 and take a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is Sunday in Atlanta.

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We go to the ninth with Dodgers leading, 3-0

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH: Arodys Vizcaino pitching. Turner flied to right. Muncy struck out swinging. Kenley Jansen is warming up in the Dodger bullpen. Do they dare turn to him with Kershaw pitching so well? Machado struck out swinging. DODGERS 3, BRAVES 0.

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Picture perfect

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Clayton Kershaw is showing why he is a three-time Cy Young winner

TOP OF THE EIGHTH: Albies lined to short. Inciarte stuck out looking. This is the first time that Kershaw has ever pitched into the eighth inning in any postseason start. Culberson struck out swinging. The line for Kershaw: 8 IP, 2 hits, no walks, 3 strikeouts. 85 pitches, 63 for strikes. Cy Young stuff. DODGERS 3, BRAVES 0

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Dodgers 3, Braves 0 after seven

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: Hernandez popped to short. Grandal grounded to second. Kershaw walked. I’d actually rather have him not expending energy on the bases. Pederson lined to second. DODGERS 3, BRAVES 0.

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It’s Dodgers 3, Braves 0 after six innings

BOTTOM OF SIXTH: Touki Toussaint in to pitch for Atlanta. Machado struck out swinging. Puig walked. Puig was caught stealing. Bellinger struck out swinging. DODGERS 3, BRAVES 0

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Yasiel Puig and Charlie Culberson share a moment

After Yasiel Puig was thrown out trying to steal in the sixth, he gave a hug and a kiss to former teammate Charlie Culberson, who had tagged him out. It was so precious.

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Corey is in the house

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Kershaw cruises through seven innings

TOP OF SEVENTH: Freeman lined to right. Markakis grounded to second. Suzuki lined to center. This looks like three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw out there. He has made only 73 pitches through seven innings. DODGERS 3, BRAVES 0.

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Kershaw shuts down the Braves again in the sixth

TOP OF SIXTH: Lane Adams, batting for Fried, was hit by a pitch. Acuna grounded to third, forcing Adams at second. Camargo grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. 60 pitches through six innings for Kershaw. At this rate, he could pitch a complete game in well under 100 pitches. DODGERS 3, BRAVES 0.

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A 419-foot homer for Yasmani Grandal

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Yasmani Grandal leads off bottom of fifth with home run

BOTTOM OF FIFTH: Grandal launches one into orbit, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. Kershaw struck out swinging. Pederson grounded to second. Turner singled to first. Left-hander Max Fried replaced Sanchez. Muncy grounded to short. DODGERS 3, BRAVES 0.

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Kershaw has shut out the Braves through five

TOP OF FIFTH: Suzuki grounded to third. Albies grounded back to Kershaw. Pitch hit him in the leg, but he’s staying in the game. It would take a broken leg to get Kershaw out of this game, and I’m not even sure that would do it. Inciarte reached on an infield single to second. Culberson grounded to short, Inciarte forced at second. 55 pitches for Kershaw, 42 for strikes. DODGERS 2, BRAVES 0

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Dodgers 2, Braves 0 after four

BOTTOM OF FOURTH: Machado grounded to short. Puig singled to left. Bellinger flied to left-center. Hernandez lined to left. DODGERS 2, BRAVES 0.

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Kershaw is cruising through four innings

TOP OF FOURTH: Camargo lined one off Kershaw, who picked it up and threw him out. No damage done. Freeman grounded to third. Markakis lined to left. 39 pitches through four innings for Kershaw. DODGERS 2, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers maintain 2-0 lead after three

BOTTOM OF THIRD: Pederson grounded to short. Turner lined to right. Muncy flied to left. Sanchez’s best inning by far. DODGERS 2, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers still lead, 2-0, after top of third

TOP OF THIRD: Charlie Culberson grounded to third. Sanchez grounded to second. Acuna flied to left. Another easy inning for Kershaw, who seems determined to outpitch Hyun-Jin Ryu. Kershaw has made 29 pitchers through three innings, 22 for strikes. DODGERS 2, BRAVES 0

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Dodgers lead Braves 2-0 after two innings

BOTTOM OF SECOND: Cody Bellinger walked. Enrique Hernandez lined to second. Bellinger stole second. Yasmani Grandal, dropped from fifth to eighth in the lineup for Game 2, fouled to third. Kershaw fouled off a couple of two-strike pitches before he struck out looking. DODGERS 2, BRAVES 0.

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Calm down kid. There’s still a lot of game left

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Dodgers 2, Braves 0 after top of second

TOP OF SECOND: Kurt Suzuki (the only change in the Atlanta lineup tonight. He replaced Tyler Flowers). grounded to third. Oscar Albies popped to second. Ender Inciarte flied to center. Kershaw has made only 20 pitches through two innings. DODGERS 2, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers take 2-0 lead thanks to Manny Machado’s two-run homer

BOTTOM OF FIRST: Joc Pederson doubled to right. Justin Turner grounded to first, Pederson taking third. Max Muncy struck out swinging. Manny Machado homered to left, Dodgers take a 2-0 lead! Machado homered on an 88-mph cutter. Yasiel Puig fouled to third. DODGERS 2, BRAVES 0.

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Clayton Kershaw escapes early trouble in top of the first

It’s time for Game 2, so pull up a chair and spend some time with us. Clayton Kershaw vs. Anibal Sanchez.

TOP OF FIRST: Ronald Acuna Jr. doubled to left-center. Johan Camargo grounded to the pitcher, Acuna taking third. Freddie Freeman grounded to second, Acuna holding at third. Nick Markakis struck out looking on a 73-mph curveball. When Kershaw has that much command of his curveball this early, he can be very difficult to hit. A good sign for the Dodgers. DODGERS 0, BRAVES 0

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Hurry and get to your seats. The game has started!

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Clayton Kershaw doesn’t have to prove himself to anybody

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Justin Turner, really animated before the game, asks fans to be as loud as last night

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It’s time ... to eat a lot of unhealthy food

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Here is the Game 2 lineup for the Atlanta Braves

Atlanta’s Game 2 lineup has only one change: Kurt Suzuki starts at catcher over Tyler Flowers.

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Dodgers reveal their Game 2 starting lineup

The top four spots are the same, but Grandal drops to eighth in the lineup that will face Atlanta’s Anibal Sanchez.

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Clayton Kershaw discusses not starting in Game 1 (video)

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Dave Roberts talks about how hard it was to leave Ross Stripling off the roster (video)

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Manny Machado discusses how fans have welcomed him in L.A. (video)

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Mike Foltynewicz was an ace in a hole

The Atlanta Braves’ decision to start Mike Foltynewicz in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Thursday met little resistance.

Foltynewicz had established himself as the Braves’ ace. After years of waiting for him to take up the mantle, the Braves watched the 26-year-old put together an All-Star first half and finish the season tied for fifth in the NL in ERA. Foltynewicz made a strong enough statement that when manager Brian Snitker announced the news Tuesday he felt emboldened, calling Foltynewicz the Braves’ “legit first guy.”

If Foltynewicz resembled anything close to “legit” in his first playoff appearance, the moment came on one pitch in the Braves’ 6-0 loss to the Dodgers.

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Clayton Kershaw on not starting Game 1: ‘They had their reasons, and I accepted them’

Clayton Kershaw sits in the dugout before Game 1.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

Clayton Kershaw entered the interview room at Dodger Stadium on Thursday afternoon in a T-shirt with the collar cut into a V-neck. Sweat stains coated his cap. He had completed a workout in left field minutes earlier, hours before the Dodgers commenced their sixth straight trip to the postseason. It would be the only time Kershaw was on the field Thursday.

Hyun-Jin Ryu, not Kershaw, started Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. Kershaw was assigned Game 2 on Friday. It was the first time since 2009 Kershaw did not start the first game of the postseason for the Dodgers. The decision, announced late Tuesday, unleashed shock waves. It snatched attention. And it surprised Kershaw.

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It’s a miracle that Hyun-Jin Ryu is pitching at all

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu is embraced by teammate Clayton Kershaw after pitching seven shutout innings against the Braves.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The entire stadium chanted the starting pitcher’s name in unison: “Ry-u! Ry-u! ”Blue towels waved furiously in the background. The game, and the crowd, belonged to Hyun-Jin Ryu, who finished the at-bat by uncorking a low 91-mph fastball. Ender Inciarte swung and missed.

Strike three. Seven innings, seven zeros on the Dodger Stadium scoreboard. A miracle.

The miracle wasn’t the seven scoreless innings Ryu pitched Thursday in the Dodgers’ postseason opener, a 6-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of their National League Division Series. The miracle was that he was pitching at all at this stage of the year.

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Flashy Dodgers are right where they want to be this time of season

Max Muncy celebrates with Yasiel Puig after hitting a home run in the second inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Dodgers were in full swagger for their playoff opener against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, and you know what that means.

Sound effects and exclamation points.

Boom! Eleven minutes into the game, Joc Pederson drives a leadoff home run over the right-center field fence.

Crash! One inning later, Max Muncy gets funky with a three-run homer that disappears into the right-field pavilion.

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Max Muncy sparks Dodgers’ power surge in 6-0 Game 1 win

Max Muncy watched only a handful of Dodgers games last October. He had spent the season as a member of the Dodgers organization, but not a day as a Dodger. Unable to earn a promotion from triple-A Oklahoma City, Muncy was unsure if he would re-sign over the winter. If the playoffs aired early in the day, he caught snippets at his home outside Dallas. He skipped the late-night drama of the pennant chase.

A year later, as the lights flickered over Dodger Stadium for the first postseason game of 2018, Muncy occupied his regular place in the center of the Dodgers lineup. He had traveled from a minor league obscurity to the cornerstone of a big league lineup, and he played an integral role in a 6-0 drubbing of the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, as a collection of overshadowed figures from last season shared the spotlight.

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Enrique Hernández talks playing every day and being up one game in the NLDS

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Justin Turner and Max Muncy on NLDS Game 1

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Dodgers defeat the Braves, 6-0 to take a 1-0 NLDS lead

TOP OF THE NINTH: Alex Wood now pitching. Camargo fouled to right. Freeman struck out swinging. Markakis singled to right. Flowers reached on an infield single to first, Markakis to second. Dylan Floro now pitching. Relax folks, the game is in the bag. Albies grounded to second. Dodgers win, 6-0 and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Game 2 is Friday at Dodger Stadium at 6:30 on FS1.

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Dodgers take 6-0 lead heading into ninth inning

BOTTOM OF EIGHTH: Right-hander Chad Sobotka in the game. Bellinger grounded to first. Puig walked. Hernandez walked. David Freese hit for Ferguson. Puig and Hernandez stole third and second, respectively. Freese hit a sacrifice fly to right, Puig scoring, Hernandez to third. That has to be the biggest postseason RBI of Freese’s career. Pederson grounded to first. DODGERS 6, BRAVES 0

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I’ll take ‘Things I didn’t need to know’ for $500, Alex

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Dodgers are three outs away from taking 1-0 NLDS lead over Braves

TOP OF EIGHTH: Caleb Ferguson now pitching for the Dodgers. Culberson grounded to short. Lane Adams, batting for Venters, struck out swinging. Acuna struck out swinging. Who will pitch the ninth? Kenta Maeda?

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Braves escape jam in bottom of seventh

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: Pederson struck out swinging. Turner walked. Muncy walked. Machado struck out swinging. On the play, Turner stole third and Muncy stole second. Left-hander Jonny Venters comes in to pitch and make Grandal bat from the right side, where he is much weaker. Grandal flied to right. DODGERS 5, BRAVES 0.

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Ryu pitches seven masterful innings

TOP OF SEVENTH: Ryu still pitching. Markakis grounded to second. Flowers struck out swinging. Albies singled to center. Inciarte struck out swinging. Seven terrific innings for Ryu. Four hits, eight strikeouts, no walks, 103 pitches. He proved that he wasn’t given the Game 1 start, he earned it.

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He chose wisely

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Two legends

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Hernandez’s homer gives Dodgers 5-0 lead after six

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH: Bellinger flied to center. That’s it for Fried. Brad Brach is now pitching. Yasiel Puig flied to left. Enrique Hernandez homered to center. Ryu grounded to the pitcher. DODGERS 5, BRAVES 0

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After top of sixth, Dodgers 4, Braves 0

TOP OF THE SIXTH: Acuna reached first on an error by Machado. Various defensive metrics show that Machado is above average at third base and below average at shortstop. Camargo struck out swinging and Acuna was thrown out attempting to steal. The old strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out. Freeman flied to left. 86 pitches for Ryu, so maybe one more inning. DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0.

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Dodger fans belt out support for their team

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Dodgers maintain 4-0 lead through five innings

BOTTOM OF FIFTH: Left-hander Max Fried now pitching for Atlanta. Max Muncy walked. Machado grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Grandal struck out looking. Maybe Fried should have started. DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0.

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Ryu escapes trouble in the top of the fifth

TOP OF FIFTH: Flowers struck out looking. Albies grounded to short. Inciarte singled to center. Culberson singled to center, Inciarte to second. Kurt Suzuki, batting for Newcomb, flied to right. Ryu escapes the jam and is putting on a pitching clinic so far tonight. The big question is, how long does Dave Roberts let him go? He has made 73 pitches through five innings. DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers lead Braves, 4-0 after four innings

BOTTOM OF FOURTH: Hernandez flied to left. Ryu singled to right. The man can do it all! Pederson fouled to first. Turner grounded to the pitcher. DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0.

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Ryu cruising through four innings

TOP OF FOURTH: Camargo grounded to second. Freeman grounded to short. Markakis struck out swinging. Another dominant inning for Ryu. DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0.

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Dodgers-Braves Game 1 in photos

Dodgers Max Muncy celebrates with Yasiel Puig after hitting a three-run homerun in the second inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Click here to see more photos.

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There’s a flag down on the field

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Dodgers go down quietly in bottom of the third

BOTTOM OF THIRD: Sean Newcomb replaces Mike Foltyniewicz. So they set Mr. high Scrabble score hit for himself and then they replace him? Grandal struck out swinging. Bellinger popped to the catcher. Puig struck out swinging. No fuss, no muss. DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0

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Braves go down in order in top of third

TOP OF THIRD: Charlie Culberson grounded to short. He got a nice ovation, which was good to see. Foltynewicz struck out swinging. Why stay with him when he obviously doesn’t have it today? Acuna struck out swinging. Ryu is cruising right along. DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0

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Dodgers take 4-0 lead on Max Muncy’s three-run homer

BOTTOM OF SECOND: Enrique Hernandez struck out looking. Ryu fiied to center. Pederson was hit by a pitch. Was that a message being sent? Turner walked. Muncy homered to center! The wheels are coming off on the pitcher whose name is too long to type out. Machado struck out looking. DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0.

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Ryu shuts down Braves in top of second

TOP OF SECOND: Tyler Flowers struck out swinging. Think he’s related to Wayland Flowers and Madame? Oscar Albies grounded to short. Ender Inciarte lined to left. Quick inning for Ryu, DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0.

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Joc Pederson homers to lead off the bottom of the first

BOTTOM FOR FIRST: Joc Pederson led off with a home run to center. Pederson homered off a 98-mph fastball. Can’t start any better than that. Justin Turner doubled to left. Max Muncy walked. Manny Machado struck out looking. Yasmani Grandal struck out swinging. Cody Bellinger walked on five pitches, loading the bases. The plate umpire has a very tight strike zone tonight. Yasiel Puig struck out swinging. Dodgers still can’t buy a hit with runners in scoring position. Great start, but it could have been so much more. DODGERS 1, BRAVES 0

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No score after top of the first

Game 1 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Atlanta. Pull up a chair and follow along with us.

TOP OF FIRST: Ronald Acuna Jr. popped to second. Johan Camargo lined to left. Freddie Freeman singled to center. Ryu seems to be aiming his pitches more than throwing them. First-inning nerves? Nick Markakis grounded to second. DODGERS 0, BRAVES 0

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It’s time for Dodger baseball! Watch the Dodgers take the field

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Clayton Kershaw discusses not starting in Game 2 (video)

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Here’s what you need to know if you are going to Dodgers-Braves Game 2 on Friday

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Let’s hope this is the Foltynewicz pitching today

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Who’s hungry?

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Dodgers fans: What’s one nice thing about the Braves?

Before Game 1 of the NLDS, we asked Dodger fans what one good thing about the Atlanta Braves is.

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Dodgers have even supplied their own DJ

It’s a party-like atmosphere outside the stadium, with music blaring to get the fans fired up. Wonder if he has a copy of “We Are the Champions” from 1981 as sung by Jerry Reuss, Jay Johnstone, Steve Yeager and Rick Monday?

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Crowd is arriving early at Dodger Stadium

Isn’t L.A. supposed to be a late-arriving crowd? Plenty of people are already pouring in to Dodger Stadium ahead of Game 1, and there’s still over an hour before the first pitch.

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Watch Cody Bellinger in the batting cage

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Hey, MLB: There’s more to Los Angeles than just Hollywood

Once again, MLB has sent a tweet before the game saying hello to Hollywood, as if Los Angeles is only known for one thing. They do this all the time. I’m not sure if it’s because they are too lazy to figure out there’s a lot happening in L.A. or if they just think they are clever. Reminds me of the people who say “Houston, we have a problem” to me when they meet me, then act like they are the first ones to ever say it.

It would be like me welcoming the MLB page to the Los Angeles Times Twitter page with “Hello, ignorant MLB tweeters.” Actually, in that case it would be correct, so, never mind.

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Plenty of seats available for Game 2 against the Braves

There are still tickets left for Game 2 on Friday against the Braves. Game time is 5 p.m.

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The Rams wish the Dodgers luck

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Dodger Stadium is all dressed up for the playoffs

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Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS

No big surprises for the Dodgers in the Game 1 lineup. Well, other than Ryu starting over Kershaw.

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Braves starting lineup for Game 1 against the Dodgers

Old friend Charlie Culberson starts at shortstop. Let’s hope he used up all his dramatics during the regular season.

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Five reasons the Dodgers will win the World Series

Walker Buehler
(Matt York / Associated Press)

Last year, the Dodgers won 104 games and ran away with the division title only to lose in Game 7 of the World Series. This season won’t have the same finish: It will end with a parade in L.A. Here are the top five reasons the Dodgers will win the World Series this year.

1. Starting pitching. The Dodgers have had a rich history of starting pitchers dating back to the days of Dazzy Vance. This year is no exception. The rotation was second in the majors in ERA, led in walks and hits per innings pitched, or WHIP, and is anchored by current ace Clayton Kershaw and future ace Walker Buehler. They also can call upon Rich Hill, Ross Stripling, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Alex Wood and Kenta Maeda, leaving them with the deepest rotation in the playoffs. But the key is Buehler, who has been the dominant No. 2 the Dodgers have been looking for ever since Zack Greinke abandoned ship for Arizona. Beating Kershaw and Buehler on consecutive nights will be a tall task for any team.

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Five reasons the Dodgers won’t win the World Series

Kenley Jansen
(Harry How / Getty Images)

Last year, the Dodgers won 104 games and ran away with the division title only to lose in Game 7 of the World Series. This season will have a similar finish. Here are the top five reasons the Dodgers will not win the World Series this year.

1. Bullpen. The three most important things in the postseason: Bullpen, bullpen, bullpen. And the Dodgers’ bullpen has been very erratic this season. Every reliever has had spurts of dominance followed by periods of abject failure. No one has really stepped up to fill the role that Brandon Morrow did last season, when he went 6-0 with a 2.06 ERA during the regular season, followed by 11 nearly flawless postseason appearances that was ruined when an obviously exhausted Morrow gave up four runs in Game 5 against the Houston Astros. The Dodgers moved Kenta Maeda to the bullpen to help in September, but he hasn’t produced the same results he did last postseason. And we haven’t even gotten to the erratic season Kenley Jansen has had by his standards. If it’s 3-2 in the seventh inning with the go-ahead run on second base, who do you want coming in the game?

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Ross Stripling left off of Dodgers 25-man NLDS roster

Ross Stripling
(John Minchillo / Associated Press)

An All-Star in July, Ross Stripling was left off the Dodgers’ roster for the National League Division Series after a rocky finish to the season. Ryan Madson secured the final spot in the team’s 12-man pitching staff.

Madson did not excel after joining the Dodgers in August, with a 6.48 earned-run average in nine appearances. But Stripling allowed opposing hitters to post a .966 on-base plus slugging percentage in the second half. Madson has postseason experience as a reliever for the Phillies and the Royals.

There were few surprises on the position-player side. Chase Utley did not make the roster.

Here is the roster:

PITCHERS (12)

  1. LHP Scott Alexander
  2. RHP Pedro Baez
  3. RHP Walker Buehler
  4. LHP Caleb Ferguson
  5. RHP Dylan Floro
  6. LHP Rich Hill
  7. RHP Kenley Jansen
  8. LHP Clayton Kershaw
  9. RHP Kenta Maeda
  10. RHP Ryan Madson
  11. RHP Hyun-Jin Ryu
  12. LHP Alex Wood

POSITION PLAYERS (13)

  1. C Austin Barnes
  2. IF/OF Cody Bellinger
  3. 2B Brian Dozier
  4. IF David Freese
  5. C Yasmani Grandal
  6. IF/OF Enrique Hernandez
  7. OF Matt Kemp
  8. IF Manny Machado
  9. IF Max Muncy
  10. OF Joc Pederson
  11. OF Yasiel Puig
  12. IF/OF Chris Taylor
  13. 3B Justin Turner
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It’s way past time for the Dodgers to win the whole thing

There has been Champagne, cases and cases of Champagne, so much Champagne that for an entire month, the tunnels underneath Dodger Stadium reek.

There have been celebrations, countless celebrations, from swimming pools in Arizona to a diamond in San Francisco, so many celebrations that players no longer race into a dog pile, they jog into a hug.

There have been moments, memorable moments, Justin Turner spreading his arms, Clayton Kershaw fighting his tears, Yasiel Puig wagging his tongue, enough moments to fill a scoreboard video that will chill.

For the last five Octobers, the Dodgers have experienced every sort of postseason joy except for the one they covet most.

There have been zero wins on the final day of the season, with awful losses in St. Louis and Chicago and Chavez Ravine.

There have been zero trophy celebrations in the middle of the field at the end of October, terrible endings turning clubhouses into bitter silence and winters into cold regret.

There have been zero ultimate victories, and it has been 30 years now, and enough is enough.

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Dodgers make a statement with Game 1 starter: Clayton Kershaw isn’t the Guy anymore

Clayton Kershaw
(Billy Hurst / Associated Press)

If Walker Buehler was available to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, selecting him for the starting assignment Thursday instead of Clayton Kershaw would have marked a symbolic passing of the torch. The decision to start Hyun-Jin Ryu sent an entirely different message, a statement that was less about the pitcher who was chosen and more about the one who wasn’t.

Kershaw isn’t the Guy anymore.

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This postseason is a different world for Yasmani Grandal

Yasmani Grandal
(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

A year ago, Yasmani Grandal was a spectator on most nights. He had started a career-high 113 games behind the plate during the 2017 regular season, starting primarily against right-handed pitchers. Austin Barnes was behind the plate against left-handed starters. But by the time the playoffs rolled around, after Grandal’s abysmal second half and Barnes’ breakthrough campaign, the Dodgers made a decision: Barnes would be their primary catcher, no matter the pitcher’s handedness.

Grandal started the first game of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He didn’t play again until he started Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs. Those were his only two starts. He appeared in two games off the bench in the World Series and finished the postseason 0 for 8 with three walks. He became an afterthought as his team went to Game 7 of the World Series.

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Communication is the key for Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

There was joy in the air at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers were about to open their final home series of the regular season, with a National League West lead that would turn out to be their largest of the year. Billie Jean King had just been welcomed as a new owner of the team.

Jaime Jarrin was three hours from his induction into the Dodgers’ ring of honor. Jarrin is 82, and the Dodgers had just announced a new contract for their Hall of Fame broadcaster. He would be back next year, and the year after that.

The Dodgers had said nothing about a new contract for their manager, Dave Roberts, 46, or their iconic pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, 30. Whether either man would be back next year was uncertain. Mark Walter, the Dodgers’ chairman, had said months ago that he would like to sign Kershaw for life.

As Walter sat in the Dodgers dugout, waiting to do a television interview, we asked whether he still wished to sign Kershaw for life.

“Sure,” Walter said.

And Roberts?

“For life?” Walter said.

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World Series Game 5: An inside look at how the title slipped away from the Dodgers

The thought flickered through Dave Roberts’ mind when his vision was still clear and his hearing still sharp, before the smoke from in-stadium pyrotechnics clouded the diamond and the blare of the train whistle at Minute Maid Park embedded in his memory.

He stared from the dugout at his fading ace on the mound in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 2017 World Series. With a three-run lead, two outs and Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman at the plate, Roberts pondered his most audacious act as manager of the Dodgers, executed on the sport’s grandest stage: He would take the baseball away from Clayton Kershaw in the middle of an at-bat.

“I’m going to take him out, right now,” Roberts thought as Kershaw snuck a curveball over the plate for a second strike against Bregman. One strike separated the Dodgers from escaping the inning and stepping closer toward the championship that had eluded them since 1988. Roberts believed the best option to collect the strike was warming up in the bullpen, in the person of Kenta Maeda.

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