Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker is confident in his team’s ability to bounce back in any situation.
It’s the attitude he’s carrying into Wednesday’s Game 4 in the National League Championship Series.
“They will come out. They will be ready to play. They’re going prepare as always. We have lost tough games before and bounced back and done really good things,” Snitker said.
LIVE Sports Zone coverage from Dodger Stadium ahead of Game 4, on Channel 2 Action News starting at 4 p.m.
The Braves are looking to get back on track after Tuesday’s collapse in the Game 3 loss.
Atlanta held a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning until Cody Bellinger’s home run tied the game and Mookie Betts’ double scored the winning run.
Here is a closer look at what to expect in Game 4.
First Pitch: 8:08 p.m. at Dodger Stadium
Pitchers:
The Braves will use Game 4 as a bullpen game while the Dodgers will turn toward Julio Urias. The opener for the Braves has not been announced as of this morning.
Huascar Ynoa or Drew Smyly, who were part of the Braves rotation for first half of the season, could get the start. Jesse Chavez, who gave up the game winning run in Game 3, would also be on the table again.
Or will Snitker repeat last year’s Game 5 when A.J. Minter started and had seven strikeouts in three innings with no runs? There are certainly options on the table for Snitker.
Urias led the majors with 20 wins this season. The Braves struggled in Urias starts in the past, but they had success against him in Game 2.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made a strange decision to use Urias as a reliever. He gave up two runs in the Braves rally.
Game notes:
- Dodger Stadium has not been kind to them lately. The team’s last win there was June 9, 2018. Atlanta has lost 20 of their last 23 games in Los Angeles going back to the 2013 NLDS. The Dodgers were 58-23 at home this year.
- Until Bellinger’s home run, the Dodgers had lost all 83 previous postseason games in which they trailed by three or more runs in the eighth inning or later.
- Every batter for Atlanta reached base at least once in Game 3. Freddie Freeman, who went 0-for-8 with seven strikes out in first two games, broke his slump with three hits and a walk Tuesday.
- Both of the Braves wins in the series so far have come on walk-offs in the ninth inning. During the regular season, the Braves were a major league-worst 1-12 (.077) when games were tied going into the ninth.
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