Dodgers Advance to NLCS After 4-1 Victory Over Braves

Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a spot in the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night, defeating the Atlanta Braves 4-1 in Game 4 of the National League Division Series at Truist Park. A seventh-inning, two-run single by rookie Andy Pages broke a late tie, while four relievers combined to blank Atlanta down the stretch to secure the series victory in Georgia.

How Tyler Glasnow Navigated Early Control Trouble

Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow worked 4.2 innings for the Dodgers, limiting the Braves to a single run on just one hit. However, control issues heavily impacted his workload. Glasnow issued five walks, tying the second-highest walk total of his postseason career. The only prior time he surpassed that mark came during Game 1 of the 2020 World Series, when he walked six batters while pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Atlanta capitalized on that wildness immediately in the bottom of the first inning. Michael Harris II singled on an elevated fastball out of the zone for the game’s first hit, promptly stole second base, and advanced to third on a groundout by Matt Olson. With the count at 0-2 against Ozzie Albies, Glasnow threw a curveball into the dirt. Catcher Will Smith blocked the high bounce, but the ball trickled back toward the mound, giving Harris enough time to sprint home for the game’s opening run. Glasnow settled down after that sequence, not allowing another runner past first base until the fifth inning, when his second walk of the frame ended his night.

Facing Tyler Mahle and Capitalizing on Counter-Punches

Los Angeles struggled to generate consistent offense against Braves starting pitcher Tyler Mahle, managing just three hits over 6.1 innings. Mahle had carried a 1.99 ERA since joining Atlanta via trade from the San Francisco Giants, where he had posted a 5.13 ERA prior to the deadline. In his postseason debut for the Braves, Mahle had held the Philadelphia Phillies to one run over seven frames.

Está en racha, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game regarding Mahle’s strong run of form. Desde luego, no vamos a subestimarlo. Tenemos mucho trabajo por delante.

The Dodgers manufactured their lone run off Mahle in the second inning through aggressive baserunning and a fielding miscue. Shohei Ohtani drew a five-pitch walk, stole second base on a misplay that allowed him to take third, and crossed the plate for the tying run when Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubón dropped a short fly ball in left field.

Andy Pages Drives in Two Runs to Lead Los Angeles

The game ultimately hinged on late-inning bullpen matchups. In the top of the seventh, Teoscar Hernández singled, pinch-hitter Josue De Paula walked, and Kyle Tucker drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases against Atlanta reliever Robert Suárez. Braves manager Brian Snitker turned to his bullpen for right-hander Robert Suárez to face Andy Pages, but Pages worked a full count before lining a fastball up the middle to drive in two runs and give Los Angeles a 3-1 lead.

The clutch hit marked Pages’ fourth knock in two games, completing a swift turnaround after he started the series 0-for-7. Max Muncy added insurance in the top of the ninth with a solo home run, his third of the series.

Protecting that advantage fell to the Dodgers’ relief corps. Following a sixth-inning scare where Teoscar Hernández collided with the outfield wall trying to chase down an Ozzie Albies double off left-handed reliever Alex Vesia, the bullpen slammed the door. Vesia, Edgardo Henríquez, Tanner Scott, and Edwin Díaz combined to pitch 4.1 scoreless innings, keeping Atlanta off the board for the remainder of the contest to punch the team’s ticket to the next round.