After a 5 p.m. start in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves were scheduled to play consecutive afternoon affairs at Globe Life Field.
The second of which came Wednesday in Game 3, and MLB additionally announced the remaining start times for the NLCS. With the exception of a Game 6 — which the Dodgers needed if they hoped to advance — NLCS Games 4, 5 and 7 were guaranteed to not start before 4 p.m. PT.
That they and the Braves were scheduled for a first pitch of 3:05 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, caught Dodgers manager Dave Roberts by surprise.
“That’s kind of above all of us. When they say play baseball, we’ll be ready,” he said. “The timing when we found out and we’re used to playing at night — later. But it really doesn’t matter.”
For Games 5 and 6, the start times were dependent on whether or not the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays play beyond a sweep scenario. The Rays jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series, only to lose the next three games.
When Tampa Bay and Houston were locked in for a Game 6 on Friday, the Dodgers and Braves were set to start at 6:08 p.m. Now that Rays and Astros have a Game 7 on Saturday, L.A. and Atlanta have a 1:38 p.m. first pitch for their Game 6.
More pressing than start times, the Dodgers faced some uncertainty with their pitching this week. Clayton Kershaw was scratched from Game 2 due to back spasms, and pitched to mixed results upon taking the mound in Game 5.
Of course, who is pitching for L.A. doesn’t come with much significance as it’s their lineup that has greatly struggled. The Dodgers did produce a rally in the ninth inning of Game 2 and battled back Friday, keeping their World Series hope alive.
Braves vs. Dodgers NLCS schedule and start times
Game 1: Braves 5, Dodgers 1
Game 2: Braves 8, Dodgers 7
Game 3: Dodgers 15, Braves 3
Game 4: Braves 10, Dodgers 2
Game 5: Dodgers 7, Braves 3
Game 6: Saturday, 1:38 p.m. PT, FS1
Game 7*: Sunday, 4:15 p.m., Fox and FS1
*if necessary
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