Tuesday, October13, 2020, Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas, 6:05 p.m. ET
Braves at Dodgers Betting Preview: Braves (+140), Dodgers (-162)
Atlanta Braves
The buzz being generated by Game 2 starter Ian Anderson is growing louder by the day as the 22-year-old right-hander has yet to give up a run in two postseason starts. That has come after he posted a 1.95 ERA this year over the first six starts of his career. Anderson has 17 strikeouts and three walks in 11 2/3 postseason innings, with the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins managing a total of five hits.
Freddie Freeman hit a home run in his first ever National League Championship Series at-bat in Game 1, and Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies went deep in the decisive ninth inning. The Braves got three hitless innings from their bullpen in the opener.
Left fielder Adam Duvall injured his left side on a swing in the second inning Monday, and the ailment appeared to be serious, according to manager Brian Snitker. Rookie Cristian Pache, who has just eight games of experience counting the playoffs, took over for Duvall, playing center field with Ronald Acuna Jr. and Nick Markakis shifting positions.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers Game 2 starter Clayton Kershaw opened the season with another back issue, but he has done nothing but impress ever since. Armed with a slight uptick in fastball velocity at age 32, Kershaw was 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA in the regular season. After eight scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild-card round, he gave up three runs on six hits over six innings against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the NL Division Series. The Padres hit two home runs, but Kershaw picked up the victory.
The Dodgers got a home run from Enrique Hernandez in Game 1, but have they just three homers in six playoff games to this point after leading baseball in long balls during the regular season.
Los Angeles had an NL-best 2.74 ERA from their bullpen during the 60-game season, but closer Kenley Jansen is struggling and relievers Blake Treinen and Jake McGee gave up a combined four runs in the ninth inning Monday.
NLCS Betting Pick for Game 2: Braves at Dodgers
The Braves looked unfazed in Game 1, taking their game right at the Dodgers, and now they must repeat the effort. The playoffs are relentless like that. Anderson has been impressive, but holding the top four in the Dodgers’ order to two hits in 15 at-bats, as occurred in Game 1, is a tough ask.
Kershaw is known for some major playoff meltdowns, and there is certainly no guarantee it won’t happen again, but he has shown all year that he is determined to turn back the clock.
Braves at Dodgers Betting Pick:
Dodgers 4, Braves 3
NLCS Game 2 Best Bet: Braves at Dodgers Best Bet for October 13, 2020
A pair of top-flight pitching staffs look ready to show what they can do. Although the Dodgers’ bullpen blinked first and was lit up in the ninth inning, there were just six total runs scored in Game 1.
Braves at Dodgers Best Bet: UNDER 8 total runs (-120)
–Field Level Media
