The Los Angeles Dodgers had a chance to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night, but Kyle Schwarber said, "Not so fast, my friend."
Schwarber hit a couple of titanic home runs and Clayton Kershaw was a mess out of the bullpen, giving up five runs as the Phillies beat the Dodgers 8-2 at Dodger Stadium. The victory forces a Game 4 to be played in the National League Division Series on Thursday afternoon.
The Dodgers are still up 2-1 in the best-of-five series and can still clinch a trip to the National League Championship Series with a victory.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto wasn't as sharp as he's been, leaving in the fifth inning. He gave up Schwarber's first home run, a massive blast that cleared the right-field pavilion.
Kershaw just didn't have an effective performance for Los Angeles. The Dodgers were still within 3-1 when he took the mound in relief. But that five-run outburst from the Phillies just sunk Los Angeles.
I'll be back on Thursday afternoon with all the scoring plays. Down below, you can read all of the updates and information leading into Wednesday night's game.
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Hi there, Joe Rutland here for Dodgers Roundtable on Roundtable Sports.
On Wednesday night, with a first pitch at 9:08 p.m. Eastern, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to close out their National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the start for the Dodgers against Aaron Nola for the Phillies. If you are looking at their records, then Yamamoto gets the edge. Yamamoto also helped get Los Angeles past the Cincinnati Reds in their National League Wild Card Series.
But the key point for Dodgers fans to look at is Roki Sasaki. A guy who was pretty much a starting pitcher in his baseball career has become the Dodgers' top option out of the bullpen.
Is he the No. 1 option for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts?
"He's definitely the primary option now," Roberts said on Tuesday, according to Dodgers reporter Andrés Soto of MLB.com. "I think that there's a buildup. There's also a component that we have to win X amount more games, and he's not going to close every game. It's just not feasible. So you've got to use other guys. But … if it makes sense, he'll definitely be finishing games."
If the Dodgers hold a lead in the ninth inning, don't be surprised if Sasaki gets the call to send Los Angeles to the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers won the first two games of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park on the road in Philadelphia.
Now, the Dodgers can come home to Dodgers Nation and put the hammer down on Wednesday night.
Shohei Ohtani should be batting leadoff again for the Dodgers while it looks like Trae Turner will get the leadoff spot for the Phillies.
I'll be around on Wednesday night, keeping up with key scoring plays in this critical game.
This Game 3 contest puts a bow on a big Wednesday in MLB playoff action.
MLB fans get a quadruple-header on Wednesday, starting with the Seattle Mariners looking to knockout the Detroit Tigers (Mariners up 2-1) in their American League Division Series. First pitch is at 3:08 p.m. Eastern and the game will be shown on FS1. The Tigers won 9-3; series goes back to Seattle for Game 5 on Friday.
The Milwaukee Brewers hope to finish off the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of their NLDS at Wrigley Field. First pitch is at 5:08 p.m. Eastern and the game will be on TBS. The Cubs won 4-3; Brewers still lead series 2-1 and Game 4 is Thursday night at Wrigley Field.
The Toronto Blue Jays, up 2-1, take another shot at stopping the New York Yankees in their ALDS at Yankee Stadium. That game will be on FS1. Blue Jays beat Yankees 5-2, advance to American League Championship Series.
And the Dodgers-Phillies game? That will air on TBS. Should the Phillies win, Game 4 will be Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
Make sure you go into our comments section here at Dodgers Roundtable and share your thoughts as the Dodgers go for the sweep.
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BOTTOM 9th INNING
Will Smith leads off the bottom of the ninth with Kike on deck. Taijuan Walker is on to pitch the ninth for Phillies. Smith flies out to center, one out. Kike now up and he walks. Muncy now up. Muncy singles to right, runners at first and third now for Dodgers. Dalton Rushing is pinch-hitting here. Rushing strikes out on a foul tip. Edman up as last hope for Dodgers. Edman singles to left, Dodgers now within 8-2. Shohei up at the plate, runners at first and third, and Mookie is on deck. Thomson takes Walker out for Tanner Banks in relief. On Banks' first pitch, Ohtani flies out to right. Ballgame. Phillies win 8-2.
TOP 9th INNING
Phillies look to add on against new Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen. Realmuto will be first one up. Realmuto, Kepler and Castellanos all got out on 10 pitches from Treinen. Dodgers need a fierce comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
BOTTOM 8th INNING
Orion Kerkering on to pitch for Phillies. Betts grounds out to short, one out. Teoscar now up at the plate. Teoscar grounds out to third, two outs. Freeman now up at the plate. Freeman grounds out to short. A very quiet eighth for the Dodgers. On to the ninth we go with Phillies in full control.
TOP 8th INNING
Realmuto hits solo homer off Kershaw. Phillies now lead 4-1 with no outs. Kepler just walked and Kershaw is at 28 pitches. Castellanos reaches base on an error at third base. Two on, no outs. It's getting bad for Kershaw. Stott now up, but he is out on a sacrifice bunt to third. Runners at second and third with one out. Turner now up with a .200 postseason average. Turner lines a two-run single to right and Phillies are now up 6-1. Kershaw hasn't looked good here. Schwarber now up with one on and this game might be out of reach. Schwarber just hit ANOTHER BOMB on the first pitch! Holy Cow! Phillies now up 8-1 and Dodger Stadium might be emptying out now. Harper lines a double to center field. Guess Dave is just going to leave Kershaw out there to eat some time and save his bullpen. Not a great outing for Clayton at all. He's been all around the plate with his pitches in this outing. Kershaw might not pitch again after this outing (that's not for certain, of course, but he's not doing much to ensure Roberts' confidence in him tonight). Bohm singles to left but Harper is out. Two outs now. Kershaw is at 43 pitches with Marsh now up. Kershaw is just not in the strike zone much tonight. Marsh flies out to right and, mercifully, the inning is over. Kershaw finishes with 48 pitches thrown and not much to show for the outing except giving up five runs.
BOTTOM 7th INNING
Miguel Rojas pinch hits for Andy Pages. Suarez is still out there for Phillies at 62 pitches through four-plus innings. Rojas grounds out to Harper at first base. Edman now up at the plate. Edman grounds out to third, Two outs. Shohei now hitting with a .190 postseason batting average. He flies out to left and that's it. Phillies still up 3-1 going into the eighth inning.
TOP 7th INNING
Clayton Kershaw is pitching in relief! Roberts pulled Dreyer, hoping Kershaw can keep the score within two runs. Let's see how the old veteran does here. Facing Trae Turner to lead off the inning. Turner singled and Schwarber walked. Two on, no outs. Harper now up. Danger zone for Kershaw. Harper lined out to right. Bohm now up. Wow! Will Smith picked Schwarber off at first base! Two outs now. Bohm got an intentional walk. Runners at first and third, Marsh up now. Marsh lines out to right! Kershaw gets out of the trouble. Wow! A great, great outing by Kershaw. Let's see if he comes back out for the eighth or if Roberts goes to another reliever. If Dodgers can get something going in the bottom of seventh, Dodgers fans better put a star on this moment.
BOTTOM 6th INNING
Dodgers had a threat after back-to-back singles from Will Smith and Kike Hernandez. But Muncy bounced into a 4-6-3 double play, ending the inning. Phillies still lead 3-1 heading into seventh.
TOP 6th INNING
Jack Dreyer relieves Banda, gets Realmuto out on a lineout, then walks Max Kepler. Castellanos flies out for second out. Bryson Stott at the plate and he grounds out to Freeman at first. Phillies go down and still lead 3-1.
BOTTOM 5th INNING
Betts singled with two outs, but Teoscar grounded out to a fielder's choice. Phillies up 3-1.
TOP 5th INNING
Yamamoto gives up two singles to Stott and Turner to start the inning. Roberts comes and gets Yamamoto. That's a wrap at 67 pitches. Anthony Banda coming out of the bullpen for Dodgers. Schwarber comes up with two on, no outs, and Phillies lead 3-1. This is not ideal, Dodgers fans. Going to the bullpen in the fifth inning? Oof. Double oof. Alec Bohm was walked to load the bases. Banda gets first two outs. Clock violation on Marsh gives Banda fist strike. Banda strikes out Marsh on three pitches! What a highwire escape act for the Dodgers pitcher!
BOTTOM 4th INNING
With two outs, Kike Hernandez walks and Max Muncy singled. But Andy Pages popped out to short and that'll do it. Phillies lead 3-1. Pages is 1-for-19 in playoffs. Oof!
TOP 4th INNING
A SCHWARB-BOMB!!! Kyle Schwarber broke an 0-for-22 skid and hit a 455-foot blast to tie the game at 1-1. Schwarber hit a homer over the right-field pavilion at Dodger Stadium, second person ever to do it. Harper follows with a single, reaches first base. No one out. Yamamoto in a tough spot right now. Boem singles, Harper reaches third but Pages threw the ball away. E8 on that ball. Harper scores, giving Phillies 2-1 lead. Some bad Dodgers defense. Brandon Marsh hits sacrifice fly and it's now 3-1 Phillies. It's a mess right now for Dodgers. J.T. Realmuto just doubled and reached base. Yamamoto is in a real, real pickle right now. Yamamoto gets out of it, but Roberts has bullpen working. Dodgers have work to do against Suarez. Look out, this might become a bullpen game really quickly.
BOTTOM 3rd INNING
TOMMY TANKS HITS HR!!! Dodgers take 1-0 lead. Tommy Edman ambushed Suarez and sent it out of Dodger Stadium.
TOP OF 3rd INNING
Yamamoto retires Nick Castellanos for first out. Stott flied out to short. Two outs. Betts makes stellar play to retire Trae Turner. 1-2-3 for Yamamoto. He's dealing!
BOTTOM OF 2nd INNING
Nola got Dodgers out 1-2-3. That might be it for Nola after two outs with Phillies manager Rob Thomson looking to make this a bullpen game. Ranger Suarez is warming up in Phillies bullpen.
TOP OF 2nd INNING
Yamamoto got the Phillies out in order, game still scoreless.
BOTTOM OF 1st INNING
Mookie Betts triples, then Freddie Freeman was hit by a pitch. But Will Smith struck out looking on a stellar pitch from Nola.
Dodgers leave two on. No score heading into the second inning.
TOP OF 1st INNING
Yamamoto walked Bryce Harper, but Phillies didn't score.