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The Dodgers are behind a good start from Clayton Kershaw and Manny Machado at home. Yasmani Grandal shut out the Braves 3-0 in the second game of the LNDS in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are now leading 2-0 in the Top Five series, which means that they need an extra win to be able to access the NLCS for a third consecutive year.
Here is what you need to know about Braves vs. Dodgers Game 2:
Kershaw was in vintage form
Yes, we all know Kershaw's reputation in the playoffs and his occasional fights (he entered the second game with a 4.35 playoff BPM in 122 innings), but he delivered a big win against Atlanta …
No, it did not hit a lot, but Kershaw's full repertoire allows him to maintain batting balance despite the loss of speed. He also enjoyed a good defense behind him (including some nifty games that he himself performed). The efficiency was at the rendezvous, Kershaw being only 60 shots (!) In six innings. He was at 73 throws after seven and 85 at eight (this is the first time in his playoff career that he's starting in the eighth inning).
Despite Kershaw's low score, Kenley Jansen started the ninth for the save. Kershaw's jewel, however, remained history. Returning to his debut in the seventh World Series game last year, Kershaw has now pitched 13 consecutive scoreless innings in the playoffs.
The Braves have not yet scored a point in the LNDS
The Braves lost Game 1 6-0 and were shut out in Match 2. In the regular season, the Braves ranked fifth in the NHL by scoring points. This is not just the first time of the season that they are closed in consecutive games, but the first time this happens in the history of the franchise. What is even stranger, is that the regular season Braves offense was significantly better against left – handed pitchers, and they face the left – handed starters in the first and second matches.
Machado hit early
Manny Machado, the Dodgers' infielder, opened the way for the first run with a two-shot bomb against Anibal Sanchez, who imposed a 3-0 win over …
Machado now has three home runs on a 3-0 record and they all came this season. He is also very well associated with Sanchez in his career, so this trend has certainly continued. This is the second time that Machado has been playing at home in playoffs and his first since the ALDS of 2012, when he was a beginner with the Orioles.
Yasmani Grandal, underrated, followed later with his own circuit.
Chances are now strongly against the Braves
As noted previously, the Braves are 0-2 in this LNDS, which means they will need to win three times in a row to access the NLCS. This is of course not likely to happen …
- In total, 78 playoffs among the top five in the MLB started 2-0.
- Of these, 46 (59%) were scanned.
- Only 10 (12.8%) of those 78 series saw the team equip 0-2 to return to win the series in question.
So, history suggests that the Braves are far more likely to be swept than to return to accomplish the minor miracle.
following
The third match will be held Sunday in Atlanta with the Braves on the brink of elimination. Starter launchers have not been announced yet.
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