April 1—The White Sox have acquired veteran outfielder AJ Pollock from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for reliever Craig Kimbrel—a deal that will disappoint no one in Chicago! Pollock debuted with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012, where he remained for seven seasons. He signed with the Dodgers as a free agent prior to the start of the 2019 season. Last season with the Dodgers, Pollock went 114-for-384, batting .297/.355/.536 with 69 RBI, 53 RS, 9 SB and 21 HR in 117 G. We’ll take it!
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Best-of-Seven Series
Braves win series 4-2, win National League Pennant, advance to World Series
PRE-SERIES CONTENT
➤ The Dodgers regular season win record (106) vs. the Braves (88), constitutes the largest win differential (18 games) in NLCS history, and the 5th largest of any LCS matchup across both leagues. But the Braves have been hitting well, so far, in the postseason.
➤ Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy remains injured and will not play in the NLCS.
Mark DeRosa rundown on upcoming NLCS on MLB Network
Analysts on the NLCS matchup between the Dodgers and the Braves on The Rundown
Sarah Langs looks at both Championship Series on The Beat Report
Analysts on Dodgers use of an opener in Game 5 of NLDS on MLB Network
Brian Snitker on facing Dodgers in NCLS
Freddie Freeman on NCLS and the use of openers
NLCS GAME 1
Knebel
Fried
Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 7:08 pm CDT Truist Park Dodgers / Corey Knebel, RHP at Braves / Max Fried, LHP On TBS
Dodgers 2 – Braves 3 WP: Will Smith (1-0, 0.00) | LP: Blake Treinen (0-1, 27.00) MLB Headline: Riley plays G1 hero with HR, walk-off knock
PRE-GAME CONTENT
Max Fried on NLCS Game 1 start against Dodgers
GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT
➤ Both MVPs—Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman—go 0-for-4.
➤ Miracle man, Austin Riley, comes through with a solo shot in the 4th, and a walk-off RBI single.
Game highlights from mlb.com
Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies on rocking Game 1
Max Fried and Tyler Matzek on Game 1 win
Trea Turner on facing Max Fried at the plate
Dave Roberts comments on Austin Riley and Dodgers offense
Brian Snitker talks walk-off win in Game 1
NLCS GAME 2
Scherzer
Anderson
Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 6:38 pm CDT Truist Park Dodgers / Max Scherzer, RHP at Braves / Ian Anderson, RHP On TBS
Dodgers 4 – Braves 5 WP: Will Smith (2-0, 0.00) | LP: Brusdar Graterol (0-1, 13.50) MLB Headline: Braves walk off Dodgers AGAIN in NLCS G2
PRE-GAME CONTENT
Max Scherzer on getting Game 2
Ian Anderson on facing Dodgers in Game 2 start
GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT
Game highlights from mlb.com
Analysts break down Dodgers late-game managerial decisions
Analysts on Max Scherzer’s Game 2 start on MLB Tonight
Max Scherzer on pitching with a fatigued arm in Game 2 loss
Dave Roberts on disappointing 5-4 loss in Game 2
Eddie Rosario and Ozzie Albies on walk-off win
Austin Riley and Joc Peterson on big Game 2 win
NLCS GAME 3
Morton
Buehler
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 4:08 pm CDT Dodger Stadium Braves / Charlie Morton, RHP at Dodgers / Walker Buehler, RHP On TBS
Braves 5 – Dodgers 6 WP: Tony Gonsolin (1-0, 4.50) | LP: Luke Jackson (0-1, 21.60) | SV: Kenley Jansen (1) MLB Headline: Belli breathes life into LA with clutch HR
PRE-GAME CONTENT
Analysts preview NCLS Game 3 starters on MLB Tonight
Brian Kenny on Dodgers “five decisive decisions”
Analysts on Austin Riley’s career since entering the league on MLB Network
Walker Buehler on pitching Game 3
Dave Roberts presser ahead of Game 3
GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT
Game highlights from mlb.com
Dave Roberts and Dodgers discuss Game 3 win
Brian Snitker on bouncing back from Game 3 loss
NLCS GAME 4
Chavez
Urías
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 7:08 pm CDT Dodger Stadium Braves / Jesse Chavez, RHP at Dodgers / Julio Urías, LHP On TBS
San Francisco Giants (1 – 107-55, .660) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (4 – 106-56, .654) Best-of-Five Series
Dodgers win series 3-2, advance to their 6th NLCS in 9 years
PRE-SERIES CONTENT
➤ With 107 regular season wins (best record in baseball), the Giants beat their franchise record, to win the AL West title. The defending World Series Champion Dodgers tied theirs, at 106. The Dodgers had won the AL West every year since 2012, the year that the Giants went on to win the World Series in a four-game sweep against the Tigers.
➤ The Dodgers-Giants rivalry extends all the way back to New York in 1884—a quarter century before the dawn of the modern baseball era—when the Brooklyn Dodgers played at Ebbets Field, and the New York Giants played at the Polo Grounds, in Upper Manhattan. Both clubs moved to California in 1957. The National League owners voted unanimously to allow the moves, on the condition that that both clubs relocate at the same time.
Top moments in Dodgers-Giants rivalry
Dodgers-Giants rivalry on MLB Now
Dave Roberts on facing the Giants in the NLDS
Evan Longoria and Mike Yastrzemski on NLDS vs. the Dodgers
NLDS I – GAME 1
Buehler
Webb
Friday, October 8, 2021 at 8:37 pm CDT Oracle Park Dodgers /Walker Buehler, RHP at Giants / Logan Webb, RHP On TBS
Walker Buehler on Dodgers momentum going into NLDS
Logan Webb on pitching Game 1
GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT
Homegrown starter Logan Webb pitches brilliantly, striking out 10 with no walks (5 H) in 7⅔ scoreless innings. Watch highlights from mlb.com:
Gabe Kapler on Webb’s performance
Giants Game 1 battery – Buster Posey and Logan Webb
Analysts on Logan Webb’s stellar start on MLB Tonight
Will Smith and Walker Buehler on shutout loss
NLDS I – GAME 2
Urías
Gausman
Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 8:07 pm CDT Oracle Park Dodgers / Julio Urías, LHP at Giants / Kevin Gausman, RHP On TBS
Dodgers 9 – Giants 2 WP: Julio Urías (1-0, 1.80) | LP: Kevin Gausman (0-1, 6.75) MLB Headline: Belli brings LA bats to life in Game 2 win
PRE-GAME CONTENT
Julio Urías on pitching in Game 2
Kevin Gausman on starting Game 2
GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT
Dodgers starter Julio Urías helps his own cause and opens the scoring with an RBI single, in the 2nd. Multiple epic defensive plays, on both sides! Giants catcher Buster Posey sets new club record for most postseason hits (54). Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Analysts on Dodgers’ defense in Game 2 on MLB Tonight
NLDS I – GAME 3
Wood
Scherzer
Monday, October 11, 2021 at 8:37 pm CDT Dodger Stadium Giants / Alex Wood, LHP at Dodgers / Max Scherzer, RHP On TBS
Dodgers 0 – Giants 1 WP: Tyler Rogers (1-0, 0.00) | LP: Max Scherzer (0-1, 1.29) MLB Headline: Pitching, defense lead Giants to Game 3 win
PRE-GAME CONTENT
Alex Wood on getting the start for Game 3
Max Scherzer on starting Game 3
GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT
Max Scherzer comes through, as Dodgers offense gets shut out
On a cool and unusually windy night in LA, a gust of wind knocks Max Scherzer off balance
Max Scherzer on impact of wind and Game 3 loss
NLDS I – GAME 4
DeSclafani
Buehler
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 8:07 pm CDT Dodger Stadium Giants / Anthony DeSclafani, RHP at Dodgers / Walker Beuhler, RHP On TBS
Giants 2 – Dodgers 7 WP: Joe Kelly (1-0, 5.40) | LP: Anthony DeSclafani (0-1, 10.80) MLB Headline: Dodgers’ stars rise to force decisive Game 5
GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT
Walker Buehler on “asking” to pitch Game 4
Walker Buehler and Mookie Betts on big win
Gavin Lux and Will Smith post-game presser
Dave Roberts on huge Game 4 victory
Gabe Kepler on Game 4 loss and must-win Game 5
NLDS I – GAME 5
Knebel
Webb
Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 8:07 pm CDT Oracle Park Dodgers / Corey Knebel, RHP at Giants / Logan Webb, RHP On TBS
➤ Dodgers announce day-of that Corey Knebel will open Game 5, rather than the scheduled starter, Julio Urías. Presumably, Urías will take the mound at some later point and pitch for as long as he remains effective.
Analysts look ahead to win-or-go-home Game 5 on MLB Tonight
A look at the Game-5 Urías-Webb faceoff on MLB Network’s FastCast
Logan Webb on starting Game 5 on MLB Tonight
Dave Roberts on do-or-die Game 5
Gabe Kepler talks Game 5
GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND POST-GAME CONTENT
Logan Webb again pitches brilliantly through 7.0 innings, giving up 1 R/ER on 4 H (1 BB, 7 SO). The Dodgers, in contrast, deployed an opener-short-reliever-long-reliever-bullpen pitching strategy. Mookie Betts goes 4-for-4. In top 9th, with the score having been tied at 1 since the 6th inning, Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger knocks the game-winning RBI single, scoring Justin Turner (reached on HBP). The expensive and accomplished Max Scherzer closed, for the first save of his long career. But it was an ugly ending for a great season for both teams and a great division series. In bottom 9th, with two outs, and Giants outfielder Kris Bryant on 1B (reached on E5), on an 0-2 count, Giants second baseman Wilmer Flores is called out for a clearly checked swing that was not even close to an actual swing. Terrible way to win. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Mookie Betts on his big 4-for-4 night and advancing to NLCS
Max Scherzer on his first career save, advancing to NLCS
Cody Bellinger on rough season and game-winning RBI
Dave Roberts on Game 5 win and advancing to NLCS
Darin Ruf and Logan Webb on NLDS loss to the Dodgers
Gabe Kepler on Wilmer Flores’ checked swing and Game 5 loss
Mark DeRosa breaks down NLDS Game 5 on MLB Network
Brian Kenny on Dodgers use of an opener in Game 5 on MLB Network
New York Yankees (92-70, .568) at Boston Red Sox (92-70, .568)
Red Sox defeat Yankees, advance to NLDS
PRE-GAME CONTENT
The Red Sox will face the Yankees tonight without star slugger J.D. Martinez, who sprained his ankle tripping over second base, in the final game of the regular season. Martinez is day-to-day.
Nathan Eovaldi on starting against the Yankees:
Gerrit Cole on starting in the AL Wild Card:
Cole
Eovaldi
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at 7:08 pm CDT Fenway Park Yankees / Gerrit Cole, RHP at Red Sox / Nathan Eovaldi, RHP On ESPN
The momentum is with the home team all night. Yankees $324 MM starter Gerrit Cole is off, giving up a 2-run HR to Xander Bogaerts and a solo shot to Kyle Schwarber, in the shortest outing of his career (2 BB, 3 SO in 2.0 IP). Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi is razor sharp, giving up just a solo HR to Anthony Rizzo on 4 hits (0 BB, 8 SO) in 5⅓ IP. Both bullpens perform similarly to their respective starters. Collectively, Yankees pitching issues 7 BB, to the Red Sox 0 BB. Alex Verdugo RBI 2B for the Red Sox, in the 6th. Alex Verdugo is out at 2B on his own 2-RBI 1B that also advances Xander Bogaerts to 3B, in the 7th. Giancarlo Stanton solo HR for the Yankees, in the 9th, is not enough to bend the arc of destiny. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
This spectacular defensive play by the Red Sox is not to be missed:
This is the third time that the Red Sox and the Yankees have faced off in a winner-take-all postseason game. The first was a tiebreaker game for the AL East title, in 1978. The Yankees won 5-4. The second was Game 7 of the ACLS, in 2003—a 6-5 Yankees win on an Aaron Boone walk-off in the 11th inning.
National League Wild Card Game
St. Louis Cardinals (90-72, .556) at Los Angeles Dodgers (106-56, .654)
Dodgers defeat Cardinals, advance to ALCS
PRE-GAME CONTENT
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Max Muncy and Clayton Kershaw injuries:
Max Scherzer’s mindset ahead of NL Wild Card:
Adam Wainwright on starting against the Dodgers:
Wainwright
Scherzer
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Dodger Stadium Cardinals / Adam Wainwright, RHP at Dodgers / Max Scherzer, RHP On TBS
That’s a relief! Los Dodgers won 106 games—16 more than the Cards!
A tense low-scoring night, marked by great defense and missed opportunities (Cardinals strand 11, Dodgers leave 7 on). Both starters are shaky, especially Dodgers starter Max Sherzer, yet both manage to escape multiple close calls. There is not a single 1-2-3 inning in the game.Tommy Edman scores for the Cardinals, in the 1st, on a wild pitch by Sherzer. It takes Dave Roberts a minute to pull the future Hall-of-Famer-er, but with two on and one out in the 5th, he sends in Joe Kelly, who retires the next two to end the inning. Sherzer gives up the 1 R/ER, on 3 H (3 BB, 4 SO) in 4⅓ IP. In the 4th, Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright gives up a solo shot to Justin Turner (1) to tie the game at 1. Mike Schildt keeps Wainwright in through 5⅓ (4 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 5 SO). Although he allows Tommy Edman a base hit, Kenley Jansen pitches brilliantly for the Dodgers, in the 9th, striking out three of four (2 Ks). The game ends in high drama, in the bottom of the 9th. With one on and two outs, center fielder and struggling hitter Chris Taylor delivers in the clutch with a 2-run walk-off HR (1)—the fourth in Dodgers postseason history. He doesn’t start the game—subbing in to last in the lineup, in the 7th—but he sure finishes it! Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Kenley Jansen fans 3 in the 9th:
Chris Taylor enjoys his walk-off HR, Wild Card win:
Max Scherzer high fives fellow 2019 World Series Champion and former Nationals teammate Juan Soto, and Nationals hitting coach Kevin Long to celebrate the win:
