Four thoughts from Atlanta’s blowout loss in Game 3

You have to squint pretty hard if you are going to find anything positive to takeaway from the Braves performance in Game 3. Despite how ugly the game was, Atlanta still leads the best-of-seven series 2-1.

Turn the page quickly

A seven-game series with no off days was always going to be a challenge. One positive is that much like the regular season, there is another game to prepare for tomorrow. How much the Braves are able to put this game behind them and respond will ultimately determine the outcome. Given this performance, it shouldn’t be that hard to forget about. Let us not forget that the Dodgers were the best offensive club in the majors during the regular season and their bats were bound to wake up at some point.

Saving the bullpen

From the moment Wright left in the first inning, this game became about preserving the bullpen. The results were ugly for Grant Dayton but he gave them 62 pitches. Huascar Ynoa did a great job coming in and tossing four scoreless innings while throwing 92 pitches. If the Braves go on to win this series, then we may very well look back to this game and the fact they were able to get through it without using any of their best relievers.

Some rest for some key regulars

It was not under the circumstances that you would like, but the blowout allowed Brian Snitker to give Travis d’Arnaud, Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuña Jr. some rest. That could be big in the case of d’Arnaud who has started every postseason game behind the plate. As soon as this game got out of hand, it was important to get him out of the game and off his feet as they are going to need him as close to 100 percent as they can get for the remainder of this series.

Bryse Wilson will start Game 4

Joe Buck and John Smoltz apparently missed the memo but the Braves announced that Bryse Wilson would be their starter for Thursday’s Game 4 during Brian Snitker’s 2 p.m. pregame session with the media. So, who was going to start Thursday was never a question despite what you might have heard on the broadcast. The situation however is the same as it was coming into Game 3 with Wright. The Braves can ill-afford an ineffective outing by Wilson that results in them having to go to their bullpen early. Snitker said Wednesday that he wasn’t looking at Game 4 as a bullpen game and that he is hoping that Wilson can go as far as he can. They simply cannot afford to let another game slip away in the early innings.