Braves look to get back on track with a bullpen game for Game 4

After a brutal loss in Game 3, the Atlanta Braves will be looking to bounce back Wednesday evening when the NLCS continues at Dodger Stadium. The Braves carried a 5-2 lead into the eighth inning Tuesday night before the Dodgers erupted for four runs including a three-run home run by Cody Bellinger off of Luke Jackson that tied the game. Atlanta was five outs away from a 3-0 series lead but now must put that behind them quickly in order to regain control of the series.

The Braves have yet to announce their starter for Game 4 but Brian Snitker confirmed Tuesday night that it will be a bullpen game. Atlanta has multiple options that could start with Huascar Ynoa and Drew Smyly available as multiple inning options.

The Dodgers will stick with left-hander Julio Urias as their starter for Game 4 despite his relief appearance in Game 2. The Dodgers usually to less than 100 pitches on a normal start and that number will likely be lower for Game 4. That is something that the Braves will need to take advantage of as Los Angeles has been forced to lean heavily on their bullpen over the first three games of the series. The Dodgers used eight pitchers in a bullpen game in Game 1. They used seven in their Game 2 loss in which Max Scherzer exited before the end of the fifth inning. They had hoped that Walker Buehler would be able to give them some length in Game 3 but he didn’t make it out of the fourth forcing them to use eight more relievers.

With another bullpen game likely for the Dodgers in Game 5, Atlanta would benefit by getting into that bullpen as quickly as they can Wednesday night. That won’t necessarily be an easy thing as Urias put together a great season and was solid in his first two postseason starts against the Giants allowing a combined six hits and two runs over nine innings. He struggled in relief against Atlanta in Game 2 allowing three hits and two runs as the Braves rallied from a two-run deficit to tie the game.

After going 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts over the first two games of the series, Freddie Freeman broke out with three hits in Game 3. Adam Duvall had two hits and drove in his first two runs of the series. Eddie Rosario led off in the first three games of the series, but it will be interesting to see if Snitker makes a change with a left-hander on the mound.

Wednesday’s game is scheduled to get underway at 8:08 p.m. ET and can be seen on TBS.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, October 20, 8:08 p.m. ET

Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

TV: TBS

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network