When Sunday started, most Atlanta Braves expected (or at least hoped) that Chris Sale would be starting Game Two of the NLDS against the Dodgers. If the Braves were to have any realistic chance of taking down LA in his series, they simply had to win one of these two games out west. After losing Game One, the urgency was ratcheted up, which is exactly why so many fans were upset when it was revealed that Sale would not be getting the starting nod.
Instead, the Braves are turning to Ray Kerr once again to try and salvage this series before it returns to Atlanta. One can quibble over the process here (including the decision to send Sale out for Game Three of the Wild Card round), but the die is cast, and this is the lineup that the Braves are employing to back Kerr up.
It is doing little to make many fans feel better.
Game 2.#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/jhO2fufePd
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 4, 2026
Braves drop NLDS Game Three lineup after making polarizing Chris Sale decision
The lineup itself is pretty straightforward. They are up against another lefty in Blake Snell, so the Braves are opting to alternate handedness through the first six batters, before ending with a bunch of righties at the end. That puts pressure on Snell throughout the lineup, and makes sure the pinch-hitting decisions are straightforward late in the game. Of note, Ha-Seong Kim is not at shortstop, with Dubon getting the nodd and Lane Thomas getting the start in left field.
Again, fans have a lot of questions at the moment, but they will largely be forgotten if the Braves win Game Two. Yes, it is a little weird to bring Sale out of the bullpen against the Phillies if it meant that there was no chance Sale could pitch a second time in this series. Yes, it makes one wonder if Sale was having trouble bouncing back. Yes, it means the Braves are employing a bullpen game in the first two road games of a best-of-five series, and that is far from ideal.
However, that doesn't mean that this couldn't play to the Braves' advantage. The top arms in their bullpen are rested right now. If the Braves DO find a way to win on Sunday, they will have effectively stolen home field advantage from the Dodgers, and will have both Sale (in theory) and Tyler Mahle ready to roll when this game gets back to Atlanta. No one said this was a perfect plan, but fans shouldn't lose hope yet.
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