Braves @ Dodgers NLCS Game 7: Anderson vs. May (and friends) for a trip to the 2020 World Series

Things looked quite bad for the Dodgers after Thursday night’s drubbing that put them down 3-1 in the NLCS. Two straight wins have brought them to Game 7 when ***tired sports cliché*** anything can happen.

Anything, including starting Dustin May, because that’s what’s happening. He of the Game 5 start that saw him throw two innings and make 55 pitches. He’ll probably be on a similar workload today in an almost all-hands-on-deck situation for LA. He has given up two runs (one earned) in 6 2/3 postseason innings thus far.

	5:15 p.m.		Arlington
RF	Acuna	RF	Betts
1B	Freeman	SS	Seager
DH	Ozuna	3B	Turner
C	d’Arnaud	1B	Muncy
2B	Albies (S)	C	Smith
SS	Swanson	CF	Bellinger
3B	Riley	LF	Pollock
LF	Markakis	DH	Pederson
CF	Pache	2B	Taylor
P	Anderson (R)	P	May (R)

I’d expect Tony Gonsolin, situation-dependent, to follow after May’s outing ends. There’s a chance Clayton Kershaw and/or Julio Urias could pitch today, but I’d rather not see either of them on the bump in case they’re needed to start the first two games of the World Series. Who am I kidding? Kershaw is 100% throwing today because Dave Roberts will make that decision. Let’s just hope it works out better than the last time he pitched in relief.

Walker Buehler‘s solid outing, combined with the Dodgers jumping on Max Fried early and some timely defense helped to set up this deciding game. The last time the Dodgers played a Game 7 in the NLCS, it was two years ago in Milwaukee. The last time the Braves played a Game 7 in the NLCS, it was 1996 against the Cardinals. None of that means much, but it’s just fun to note.

Buehler’s six innings yesterday allowed the Dodgers’ bullpen to get a little more rest. Everyone outside of Pedro Baez, Kenley Jansen and Blake Treinen will have an extra day of rest. We could see some big-time, high-leverage innings for guys like Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Jake McGee and, yes, Joe Kelly. Buckle up!

Chris Taylor is back after a night off. He hurt his right ankle making a throw from left field in Game 5, but he’s getting the call at second base. Joc Pederson draws the start against the right-hander, as per usual. The Braves are running out the same lineup in this winner-take-all contest.

Ian Anderson, the Game 2 starter who threw four scoreless innings, is on the mound for Atlanta. The Dodgers did draw five walks against him, but they could only muster one hit. The offense will have to be better than that if they hope to advance to the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

If you’re a fan of history and odds being on your favorite team’s side…

Coming into 2020, 87 teams had fallen behind 3-1 in a best-of-7 postseason series.

Only 17 forced a Game 7.

BUT! 13 of those 17 won Game 7 and finished the comeback.

— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) October 18, 2020

Would be neat to make some history.

Here’s a spot of good news for Dodgers’ play-by-play guy Joe Davis, who will be calling the game as a FOX play-by-play guy in place of Joe Buck.

Lots of emotions this morning. Grew up watching @Buck call a bunch of Game 7s on FOX, with a crazy dream of maybe one day having a chance to do the same. So lucky, so thankful, so excited to be keeping his chair warm tonight.

— Joe Davis (@Joe_Davis) October 18, 2020

Thank some random Week 6 NFL game for allowing Davis to call the first Game 7 of his broadcasting career.

Finally…

If you're gonna do this, you better come back and win the fucking series.

— Dustin Nosler (@DustinNosler) October 17, 2020

Don’t fuck it up.