The Daily Chop: Moving on to the NLCS

For the first time since 2001, the Atlanta Braves are headed to the NLCS after completing a sweep of the Miami Marlins in the Division Series on Thursday. Atlanta won 7-0 behind another great pitching performance, this time by Kyle Wright. That capped off an unprecedented run by Atlanta’s pitching staff who has now thrown four shutouts in five postseason games. Atlanta will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS after they dispatched the Padres Thursday night.

More Braves News

We are still waiting on game times but the NLCS will get underway on Monday from Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Ian Anderson has to be one of the Braves’ biggest surprises for the 2020 season and he has given them more than they could have reasonably expected.

A funny moment took place prior to Game 3 on Thursday when cameras caught Freddie Freeman blowing kisses and making a big heart with his hands. The pregame show assumed it was for his wife Chelsea but it was actually for Freeman’s former teammate A.J. Pierzynski who was on the broadcast crew for the game.

MLB News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is mulling a change at closer after Kenley Jansen struggled to nail down a 6-3 lead in Game 2 against the Padres. Joe Kelly ended up getting the final out and preserving a 6-5 win.

The Athletic’s Evan Drellich reported Thursday that Major League Baseball’s qualifying offer for this offseason will be set at $18.9 million. That number represents a $1.1 million lease over last season’s $17.8 million number.