Game 3 of the National League Division Series is in the books. The Los Angeles Dodgers rode a strong pitching performance from its their to take a 2-1 series lead over the Atlanta Braves. The San Diego Padres outlasted the Milwaukee Brewers to avoid elimination in Game 3.
Here is the primary takeaway from each winner.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Continues Playoff Dominance
When the Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto ahead of the 2024 season, they were expecting a frontline starting pitcher. Instead, he’s developed into quite the big-game pitcher. The right-hander has made 11 postseason appearances, pitching to a 2.14 ERA in 63 innings.
It probably wasn’t surprising to see the reigning World Series MVP pick up right where he left off. Yamamoto turned in seven innings of one-run ball, striking out 10 Braves. That $325 million deal they signed him to looks like a shrewd move in hindsight, as the Dodgers have yet to lose a postseason series with him in their rotation.
OptaSTATS notes that Yamamoto became the first pitcher in MLB postseason history to have a seven-inning start with one run allowed and 10 strikeouts while throwing fewer than 100 pitches.
That start marked the fourth consecutive postseason start for Yamamoto, which is tied for the second-longest streak in MLB postseason history according to MLB’s Sarah Langs. The longest such streak of six innings and one run or fewer allowed belongs to Curt Schilling who has six. Schilling’s streak happened in 1993-2001, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks secure their only championship.
Another Dodgers postseason hero also made his mark known. Kiké Hernández delivered a big two-run home run off Chris Sale in the fourth. Freddie Freeman also added a solo shot in the frame, giving Los Angeles enough runs to cruise to victory.
Edwin DÃaz also excelled in his first postseason test with the Dodgers. Despite surrendering a leadoff double, DÃaz stranded him and preserved the 3-1 lead.
Teams who win a pivotal Game 3 in a best-of-five series after splitting the first two games go won to win the series 71.6% of the time. Now the Dodgers are in the driver’s seat to clinch a third consecutive NLCS berth. They just need one more win to get it.
Padres Survive Game 3 Without Mason Miller
Facing elimination, the Padres bounced back with a big win. Despite surrendering 11 hits and four walks on the night, San Diego’s pitching staff stranded 11 runners and kept the Brewers at a 2-for-7 clip with runners in scoring position.
For the third straight game, they blew a 2-0 lead. But unlike the previous two games, they kept adding to their run total. That was enough for them to maintain a close lead throughout.
The Padres took the lead for good in the fifth. Jake Cronenworth homered off Jojo Romero, his first postseason round-tripper since Game 2 of the 2022 NLDS. The Padres capitalized on a couple Brewers mistakes, as a DL Hall wild pitch and Cooper Pratt throwing error gave San Diego a critical insurance run. That enabled them to fend off a pair of late Brewers rallies.
Without Mason Miller and Adrián Morejón, the Padres had to be creative in getting the final six outs. Miller is currently on the paternity list, as his wife went into labor just before Game 3, reports Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
They turned to starter Michael King, who threw 40 pitches in relief. That was enough to preserve a 4-3 lead. King may be an option for San Diego in relief should they force a fifth game in the series. It’s not an unusual role for the right-hander, as he broke in as a reliever with the New York Yankees before becoming a full-time starter in 2024.
It’s worth noting that all three games in this series have been decided by one run. That marks the first postseason series that’s happened since the 2021 NLCS between the Braves and Dodgers, per MLB Stats.
The Padres survived Game 3. They can put pressure on the Brewers if they can win Game 4 at home and shift the series back to Milwaukee.
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