After falling into a 3-1 deficit, the Los Angeles Dodgers responded with two consecutive victories to force the Atlanta Braves to a winner-take-all Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.
“Very proud, but we’re not done,” Justin Turner said of the Dodgers after Game 6. His home run was among two the team hit and Turner drove in one of their three runs. “We’ve still got a lot to accomplish. We’ve got a big one tomorrow, we’re going to get prepared, come in, fight for every pitch and find a way to win a ballgame.”
The Dodgers are 3-1 in a Game 7 since the 1958 season. Their lone loss came to the Houston Astros in a 2017 World Series that became tarnished upon MLB discovering an elaborate sign-stealing scandal.
The last Game 7 the Dodgers played was against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2018 NLCS, which they won. A victory on Sunday would put L.A. in the World Series a third time in the past four years.
To get there they will need to solve Ian Anderson, who has yet to allow a run in 15.2 innings pitched over three postseason starts. Anderson last pitched in Game 2, working around five walks and while he held the Dodgers scoreless, only managed to pitch four innings.
The Dodgers mustered just one hit and came away from the loss lamenting their failure to capitalize on opportunities. “We never faced him before, so you don’t know what to expect,” Corey Seager said Saturday.
“He was good, you tip your cap to him. Hopefully we can do the same thing. Come out, battle, grind and score a couple runs off him.”
The Dodgers have announced Dustin May as their Game 7 starter, which was a mild surprise considering Tony Gonsolin is on regular rest. Though, May will likely be an opener, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did indicate Gonsolin was expected to pitch a handful of innings.
“We’ve got some good names available, but as far as how we deploy these guys, we haven’t figured it out yet,” Roberts said.
Roberts also didn’t rule out the possibility of Clayton Kershaw pitching. “Once the game starts it can go in may different directions.”
Chris Taylor is back in the lineup at second base after being limited to appearing off the bench in Game 6 due to rolling his right ankle on Friday.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: AJ Pollock
DH: Joc Pederson
2B: Chris Taylor
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