In anticipation of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, the TBS pregame show heavily spotlighted the remarkable starting pitching of the Los Angeles Dodgers, primarily focusing on Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Over the first two games, the duo pitched a combined 17 innings and faced 56 batters without allowing any opponents to reach scoring position, demonstrating their dominance on the mound.
Analyst Curtis Granderson pointed out that the Milwaukee Brewers needed to disrupt the rhythm of the Dodgers’ pitchers early on. He emphasized the importance of seeing more pitches, suggesting that it was crucial for the Brewers to get runners into scoring positions to utilize their speed and athleticism effectively. “They have to find a way to get the pitch count up,” Granderson noted, stressing that longer at-bats could lead to opportunities against the Dodger bullpen.
The Brewers showed some promise in the early innings. In the first inning, they managed to place runners on first and second with two outs, forcing Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow to throw 18 pitches. A one-out triple by Caleb Durbin followed by an RBI single from Jake Bauers in the second inning indicated that the Brewers were starting to find their offensive rhythm and seeing more pitches, as hoped.
Former MLB players Jimmy Rollins and Pedro Martinez weighed in on the potential for the Brewers’ success. Rollins expressed skepticism about the Brewers winning against a strong Dodger starter but suggested that keeping the game close would give them a fighting chance. Martinez highlighted the urgency of the situation, characterizing Game 3 as a must-win for the Brewers, who were down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. He warned that if Glasnow could replicate the success of the previous Dodgers starters, the road back could be nearly impossible for the Brewers.
While the odds appear stacked against them, there remains a glimmer of hope for Brewers fans as the team aims to rally and turn the tide in this crucial playoff matchup. The performance in Game 3 could be the turning point that reignites their postseason aspirations.