Stagnant Pitching Leads To Braves Tying Series Against Dodgers

The Atlanta Braves sent out a third consecutive bullpen game for Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

It was a big-risk decision for Braves manager Walt Weiss. And it was a decision that paid off immensely.

Wouldn't you know it, the Dodgers were the ones who sent out seven different pitchers in the 3-2 loss. Mixed in with the lack of command throughout the pitching staff and lack of offensive production, Atlanta stole Game 2 on the road and sends the series into a 1-1 tie heading back to Truist Park. 

It all started on the mound. 

Blake Snell took the rubber on Sunday, marking the first time he's pitched in the postseason since Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. From the get-go, Snell struggled to find his command. 

A 27-pitch first frame of work was the foundation for how the rest of the night would go for the Los Angeles pitching staff. Though he limited the damage to just one earned run with the bases loaded, free pass after free pass cut the two-time Cy Young's evening short. 

Freddie Freeman, who had just one home run in his last 66 games dating back to July 4, launched his first postseason home run off right-hander Grant Holmes, tying the game in the fourth. 

Even with that jolt of life, that would be all she wrote for the Dodgers and their offense. As the Los Angeles pitching staff depleted, Atlanta's seemed to have found their way, neutralizing the number-two-seeded Dodgers to a 0-for-8 showing with runners in scoring position. 

Atlanta scored their three runs sporadically after an RBI single in the first, brought to you by  Mauricio Dubón in the first. A wild pitch from Kris Bubic in the fifth inning and an RBI double from Michael Harris II in the seventh were enough for the Braves. 

Didier Fuentes took the biggest bulk of innings, cruising through three scoreless innings and went out in hopes of sealing the deal in the ninth. 

Fuentes looked to be cruising as he had previously displayed, but a Max Muncy solo shot to right field made it a one-run game and gave the Dodgers some life. That knocked Fuentes out of the game and allowed rookie standout Josue De Paula to take his first postseason at-bat against Raisel Iglesias. 

Iglesias would win the battle against the 21-year-old and secured his second save of the postseason. 

With the win, the Braves tie up the NLDS one game a piece as the series now heads East. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will toe the rubber for Los Angeles, and Atlanta has southpaw Chris Sale on the slab.