The Dodgers took care of business, sending their NLDS series to Game 5. It is the only series left undecided.
NLDS 1
San Francisco 2, Los Angeles 7
The Dodgers pitched Walker Buehler on short rest. The Giants sent Anthony DeSclafani to the mound. Buehler pitched into the fifth inning allowing only one run. DeSclafani didn’t make it out of the second inning. The Dodgers started the scoring early and continued it often in this one-sided affair which sent the NLDS to a deciding game in San Francisco on Thursday.
Dodgers’ Stars Earning Their Money
Walker Buehler started on short rest. Mookie Betts launched a pivotal home run in the fourth inning. Bellinger continued to put his poor regular season behind him. Corey Seager and Trea Turner wrecked havoc on the bases. With the Dodgers firing on all cylinders, they easily coasted to victory in this, the 23 meeting of these two teams for the 2021 season. Meeting number 24 will determine which of MLB’s two best records advances to the second round of the playoffs and which goes home.
Gavin Lux Will Play
One of the more popular criticisms of the Dodgers is how right-handed heavy they are at the plate. Dynamic, young, left-hand hitting Gavin Lux is trying to make people forget all about that.
NLDS 2
Milwaukee 4, Atlanta 5
This tight, tense game featured a little bit of everything. The game and the series was finally decided by an at-bat between Milwaukee’s closer extraordinaire, Josh Hader and Atlanta’s reigning NL MVP, Freddie Freeman. Freeman won that battle which won the Braves the series, sending them to the NLCS for a second consecutive season.
Freeman Paves the Way
Last season’s NL MVP continues to carry the Braves, this time crushing the home run which punched Atlanta’s ticket to the NLCS.
ALDS
Houston 10, Chicago 1
No trashcans needed. The Astros scored early and often against the Chicago White Sox, in Chicago, to roll to an easy victory which punched their ticket to the ALCS
Houston’s Offense Just Fine on the Road
After being accused by certain people in the White Sox organization of continuing to need to cheat at home in order to win, the boys from Houston worked over the Chicago pitching in a 10-1 rout – in Chicago. The Astros will now hold home field advantage over the Boston Red Sox for the ALCS.