Updated

Updated · Fox News · Oct 6

Dodgers, Braves Send Yamamoto and Sale Into Pivotal NLDS Game 3 as Series Sits 1-1

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Oct 6

Dodgers, Braves Send Yamamoto and Sale Into Pivotal NLDS Game 3 as Series Sits 1-1

Q: Can Yoshinobu Yamamoto channel his 2025 World Series MVP magic to overcome Atlanta's fierce home-field advantage at Truist Park?

Yes — Yamamoto has a very real chance to do it, but only if he is close to his best immediately, because Atlanta’s home edge and Chris Sale make the margin thin. The evidence for Yamamoto is strong. He enters with a 2.53 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP and 182 strikeouts in 185 regular-season innings, and his postseason résumé is already elite: 7-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 10 career playoff appearances. His 2025 postseason was dominant enough to earn World Series MVP, and he has also handled Atlanta well, holding Braves hitters to a .196 average in 51 at-bats. At Truist Park specifically, he has been effective, allowing just one run in 6 1/3 innings there on Aug. 27. His broader road profile also supports the case: since 2024, his ERA away from home has been markedly better than at home. But this is not a favorable setup by default. Atlanta went 52-29 at home in the regular season, has already regained momentum by stealing Game 2 in Los Angeles, and now turns to Sale, who owns a 2.16 ERA, is well-rested, and shut out the Dodgers over nine innings in that same Aug. 27 matchup. The Braves have also won six of eight meetings with Los Angeles this year. So the answer is that Yamamoto can absolutely summon that October form again, and the Dodgers are justified as a slight lean because of his dependability and Los Angeles’ lineup depth. Still, overcoming Truist Park likely requires a low-scoring duel, six-plus strong innings, and near-perfect execution in the few scoring chances that emerge.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 6

Game 3 puts Los Angeles and Atlanta at a key swing point, with teams winning this spot after a 1-1 split going on to take the series about 72% of the time.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the ball for the Dodgers after a dominant 2025 postseason in which he allowed six earned runs over 37.1 innings and won World Series MVP.
Atlanta counters with Chris Sale, whose two postseason outings have produced 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings, though he also worked Game 3 on short rest before returning on normal rest here.
The matchup looks unusually even: Braves hitters are batting .196 against Yamamoto, while most Dodgers are just 21-for-122 against Sale, with Mookie Betts the main exception.
Home field adds another edge for Atlanta at 23 games above .500 at Truist Park, but the defending champion Dodgers again lean on their star-heavy roster in a series now up for control.