“There is a chance this may not get back to LA” A-ROD

“They do not beat themselves, and by the way there’s a lot more in the tank. They’re 1–1 and they’re sitting here with Acuña, who hasn’t done much, who’s one of the best players on the planet,” Alex Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez was discussing Atlanta’s 3–2 NLDS Game 2 win over Los Angeles on FOX’s postgame show. The Braves tied the series 1–1 at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, October 4. With Chris Sale ready for Game 3, Rodriguez considered the possibility of Atlanta finishing the series at home.

“There is a chance this may not get back to LA,” he said. “I’m just saying there’s a chance. I didn’t give you percentages.”

Dontrelle Willis focused on Robert Suarez’s fifth-inning entrance, with Atlanta leading 2–1, nobody out and Dodgers runners at first and second.

“But he has ice water in his veins. This felt like this was the ball game and this was the chance for the Dodgers to swing the momentum back in their dugout. 100 miles an hour to jam Will Smith, a lazy fly ball. Nobody can advance.”

Suarez retired Smith and Freddie Freeman on fly balls before striking out Teoscar Hernández. He stranded both inherited runners in a scoreless inning.

“This bullpen is very talented. But also what I see about this clubhouse is they love and respect Chris Sale because they knew they had to get a bunch of outs today in a hostile environment,” Willis said.

Willis credited Atlanta’s pitchers with quieting Dodger Stadium: “They were outstanding at taking the crowd out of the ball game.”

Derek Jeter cast the win as a reminder that Los Angeles still had to overcome Atlanta in its three-peat pursuit, imagining the Braves’ message: “They had to get through us as well.”

David Ortiz pointed to the Dodgers being held down at home after winning Game 1. “The offense was quiet,” he said. “The pitching coming from the Braves was outstanding.”

The panel then discussed Sale’s Game 3 matchup with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Rodriguez favored Sale’s matchup against Los Angeles’s left-handed hitters. Jeter also saw an opportunity for Yamamoto to stop Atlanta’s momentum.

“You would anticipate runs being at a premium. I mean, you got two of the best pitchers in the game going,” Jeter said.