Dodgers 4, Braves 1 – 2026 NLDS Game 4: Andy Pages wins game & series with clutch single to send Dodgers to NLCS

Chad Moriyama 10/07/2026 Game Recaps Leave A Comment

If Game 3 was the marquee playoff matchup of the aces, Game 4 of the 2026 NLDS was a matchup of overlooked starters in Tyler Glasnow and Tyler Mahle. The two teams exchanged manufactured runs early, and there was a stalemate into the late innings as the pitching continued to excel. When it got to a battle of the pens, it was the Braves who relented first and Andy Pages with the big blow via a bases-loaded, two-out single for a late advantage. From there, the Dodgers pen slammed the door by going 4.1 scoreless frames to close in a 4-1 victory over the Braves.

NLCS, here come the Dodgers.

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In terms of reputation and stuff, Glasnow certainly would seem to provide a big advantage to the Dodgers over the Braves with Mahle, but Mahle has pitched like an ace since the Braves acquired him and it made this game closer to a tossup on paper.

Mahle did it again tonight, giving the Braves what they needed, and Glasnow was also effective but struggled to zone the ball.

Mahle outduels Glasnow early, but the score was even

For Glasnow, the 1st wasn’t very comfortable, as Michael Harris II hit the first pitch for a single to right and then stole second to put immediate pressure on him. Glasnow rebounded with a strikeout and a groundout to second that just moved Harris to third, but after he got ahead 0-2 in the count on Ozzie Albies, Harris showed great anticipation and got a great read on a curve in the dirt to score on a wild pitch that Will Smith actually blocked. A groundout after ended the inning, but it was 1-0 Braves, though all that remarkably only took 15 pitches.

Just elite baserunning. Tip your cap.

Glasnow settled in a bit afterward, not having his sharp command, but working around it. He got past a two-out walk in an 18-pitch 2nd, then got an 11-pitch 3rd that included a one-out walk, and did it again in the 4th with a two-out walk in a 13-pitch frame (Ozzie Albies also burned a challenge).

Unfortunately, he never really found the range in the game. Glasnow started the 5th by getting ahead 0-2 but ended up issuing a lead-off walk, though he did get a flyout and strikeout to follow. However, he followed that with a four-pitch walk to put a pair on and Dave Roberts saw enough.

Glasnow only allowed one hit, but the control was just random: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 5 K, 78 Pitches.

He was lucky to only be charged with a run, as Alex Vesia entered for Matt Olson, who torched a ball but right to Enrique Hernandez for the final out of the 5th.

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When Glasnow left, it was tied at least, though maybe not deserved.

To start the game in the 1st, Mahle got the side in order on just 11 pitches, an ideal start for him. The 2nd fortunately wasn’t as ideal, as he began by walking Shohei Ohtani on five pitches. Teoscar Hernandez then fell behind 1-2 in the count, but made two great takes before wildly striking out at a ball out of the zone on a full count. That actually worked out, because Ohtani was going and got a great jump for a steal, then got to third when Sean Murphy threw the ball into center. That proved pivotal after Max Muncy popped a ball out to deep short where Mauricio Dubon just dropped it for an error to score Ohtani and tie the game at 1-1.

Enrique Hernandez followed by grounding a ball down the line to first on the bag, which unfortunately went for a double play, leaving it as just a 16-pitch frame.

The 3rd saw just a one-out single against Mahle as he threw just nine pitches, and then he struck out the side in the 4th on 16 pitches. He then threw 18 pitches in the 5th, giving up just an infield single with two outs, and got a clean 6th on just 13 pitches.

Dodgers pen escapes, Braves pen does not thanks to Andy

Continuing for the Dodgers pen in the 6th was Vesia, who was in immediate trouble after allowing a double to Albies that hit off the wall in left and shook up Teoscar Hernandez when he crashed into it. While they came out to check on him and it looked like he hurt the left side of his neck and/or head, he managed to stay in the game.

Vesia then got a soft liner to left for an important first out, and after Walt Weiss hit Lane Thomas for Mike Yastrzemski (he replaced him in left as well), Dave turned to Edgardo Henriquez. Vesia threw just nine pitches and faced three batters.

Henriquez then came up big for Vesia and the Dodgers, getting a groundout and an unintentionally dramatic lineout to Kyle Tucker to keep the score knotted up after the 6th.

For the Braves, Mahle continued into the 7th, getting a groundout but then giving up a single to Teoscar Hernandez. That was it for him, as Weiss turned to Didier Fuentes, whose stuff looked noticeably diminished compared to Game 2. Still, he got a groundout to second that just advanced Teoscar to second for the second out. Things snowballed from there, as Josue De Paula hit for Enrique and drew a five-pitch walk to put a pair on, and Tommy Edman pinch-ran for him (and went to play second). On a 3-0 pitch to Kyle Tucker, Fuentes almost picked Teoscar at second, but he was safe on review and the Braves burned a challenge. Tucker ended up drawing a walk himself to load things up with two down.

Weiss then turned to Robert Suarez to face Andy Pages, who got ahead 2-0, fouled off a fastball, got to 3-1, swung through a fastball, and then hit a full-count fastball back up the middle for a massive two-run single to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

Suarez got Mookie to groundout to end the threat, but that was obviously massive.

Muncy insurance, Dodgers pen slams door

To finish the Dodgers, Dylan Lee cruised through a 16-pitch in the 8th, then Raisel Iglesias tried to prevent insurance in the 9th. However, Max Muncy a full-count fastball to right for a no-doubter to make it 4-1 Dodgers.

Trying to close the door for the final nine outs, Roberts left Henriquez out there to start the 7th, who gave up a two-out double but got three groundouts to move things along.

Up next was Tanner Scott in the 8th against the heart of their order, and he got a pair of strikeouts and a groundout on 13 pitches, including getting Drake Baldwin to burn their last challenge.

Of course, it was Edwin Diaz for the 9th, and Hyeseong Kim entered defensively at second with Edman moving to left for Teoscar. He started by facing pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez in for Lane Thomas, striking him out. Diaz then got two routine flyouts to end the game and the series.

Let’s go.

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The 3-1 victory for the Dodgers over the Braves in the NLDS sends them to the NLCS looking for four more and seeking eight more wins total on the season. Now their next contest will be Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday, October 11. It’ll be against either the Brewers or Padres, on either FOX or FS1, and at a time yet to be determined.

Stay tuned for celebration content and other stuff looking forward!

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