Chris Sale Closed Out the Phillies on One Day of Rest and Now the Braves Need a Game 1 Starter at Dodger Stadium
By Verdexed MLB Desk
The Atlanta Braves are headed to Los Angeles. Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson homered and Chris Sale recorded the final four outs on one day of rest as Atlanta beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 in the decisive Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series on Thursday night. The win sends the Braves to face the two-time defending champion Dodgers in the NLDS, starting Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for Atlanta in winner-take-all games and gave the franchise its first postseason series win over Philadelphia. It also left manager Walt Weiss with a rotation puzzle heading into Game 1.
How Atlanta got here
Harris set the tone immediately with a three-run homer off Aaron Nola in the first inning. Nola lasted just 1 2/3 innings, and Philadelphia turned to Zack Wheeler in the third. Albies added a two-run homer and Olson a solo shot, and the Braves never relinquished control.
Then came Sale. The 37-year-old had thrown 6 1/3 innings in Game 1 on Tuesday, and Weiss said he woke up Thursday not expecting to even discuss Sale's availability. By the late innings, the plan was for Sale to face the top of the Phillies' order. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks and three strikeouts, and made Bryce Harper look overmatched with a steady diet of sliders. He became just the fourth pitcher in postseason history at his age to pitch on zero or one day of rest after a start of six-plus innings.
The rotation problem
That heroic relief outing has a cost. Sale is unlikely to be available for Game 1 on Saturday, and possibly not until later in the series. Atlanta's Game 1 starter had not been announced as of Friday morning.
The Dodgers, by contrast, are rested and aligned. Los Angeles had not formally announced its NLDS rotation, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto is widely expected to start Game 1, a choice that would keep him available on normal rest for a potential Game 5. Blake Snell and Tarik Skubal are the logical options for Games 2 and 3, with Tyler Glasnow also in the mix.
| Game | Date | Site | Expected Dodgers starter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Sat., Oct. 3, 4 p.m. ET | Los Angeles | Yoshinobu Yamamoto (expected) |
| Game 2 | TBD | Los Angeles | Blake Snell (projected) |
| Game 3 | TBD | Atlanta | Tarik Skubal (projected) |
Game 1 airs on FOX.
The Ohtani question
The biggest question for Los Angeles is Shohei Ohtani. He was activated from the injured list during the final homestand and went 5 for 21 with one extra-base hit, one walk and eight strikeouts over his last five regular-season games. The Dodgers expect a healthier Ohtani for the opener after a lengthy layoff, but how quickly he finds his timing at the plate could define the series.
There is also a roster decision looming. Top prospect Josue De Paula, promoted directly from Double-A, hit .323 with a .500 on-base percentage in his first 11 games, and he is pushing for a spot over Dalton Rushing, who is currently unable to catch.
Fantasy and DFS angle
Postseason DFS slates are small, which makes pitching decisions especially important.
Yamamoto is the strongest pitching play on Saturday's slate if he is confirmed. He gets an extra-rested arm against a Braves lineup coming off an emotional series.
Atlanta's Game 1 starter will likely be a short outing, followed by a heavy bullpen workload. That makes Dodgers bats appealing stacks, especially if Ohtani shows signs of life.
Harris, Olson and Albies carry momentum, but they face a difficult pitching matchup. Use them as leverage plays in tournaments rather than core pieces.
Betting angle
The Dodgers will be heavy favorites in Game 1, and given Atlanta's pitching situation, that is justified. The series price is more interesting. If Atlanta can steal one game in Los Angeles, Sale lines up for Game 3 or 4 at home, and that changes the math.
Bettors who like Atlanta might consider waiting until after Game 1, when the Braves' series price could lengthen further if they drop the opener.
The Verdexed model take
Verdexed's model publishes its game-by-game view of the NLDS on the MLB predictions page and in the daily picks piece at /blog/mlb-picks-2026-10-03 on Saturday. Probable pitchers drive those numbers, so check back once both clubs announce their Game 1 starters.
What's next
Watch for Atlanta's Game 1 announcement and the Dodgers' formal rotation, along with LA's roster decision on De Paula. Sale's availability for Game 3 or 4 is the hinge of the series. For now, lean Dodgers in Game 1, target their bats in DFS, and keep an eye on the series price if Atlanta's patchwork Game 1 holds up longer than expected.