NLDS · Game 3 Recap
Dodgers 3, Braves 1: Yamamoto Puts Atlanta on the Brink
October 6, 2026 · Truist Park
Dodgers lead the best-of-five series 2-1 after Game 3.
Game 3 left Atlanta one loss from elimination. Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 10 over seven innings, and the Dodgers scored all three of their runs on fourth-inning homers by Kiké Hernández and Freddie Freeman. Chris Sale allowed three runs over five innings.
Sale struck out six through the first two innings, but Los Angeles kept making him work. Mauricio Dubón temporarily preserved the scoreless tie by robbing Freeman of a home run in the 3rd. In the 4th, Andy Pages singled and Hernández followed with a two-run homer. Freeman added a solo shot later in the inning.
Atlanta's biggest opportunity came in the 5th. Singles by Dubón and Lane Thomas and a walk to pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez loaded the bases with one out. Drake Baldwin's groundout scored Dubón, but Ronald Acuña Jr. grounded out to end the rally with Atlanta still trailing 3-1.
The Braves' bullpen supplied four scoreless innings. Atlanta threatened again when Ozzie Albies doubled to open the 9th, but Edwin Díaz stranded him to finish the game.
Major Storylines
- Yamamoto controlled the game. He needed just 98 pitches to complete seven innings, setting a postseason career high with 10 strikeouts.
- Atlanta couldn't deliver the big hit. The Braves finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, struck out 12 times and managed five hits. Baldwin, Acuña and Austin Riley went a combined 0-for-10.
- Sale's early strikeouts weren't enough. His first six outs came via strikeout, but the fourth-inning home runs decided the game. Dubón's earlier defensive gem could only delay the damage.
- The Dodgers won with Ohtani quiet. Moved to fifth in the batting order, Shohei Ohtani finished 0-for-2 with a walk. Hernández and Freeman supplied every RBI.
Line Score
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Braves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
W: Yoshinobu Yamamoto. L: Chris Sale. S: Edwin Díaz.
Box Score
Braves Batting
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Baldwin, C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ronald Acuña Jr., DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Olson, 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ozzie Albies, 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Michael Harris II, CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mauricio Dubón, LF/SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Thomas, RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mike Yastrzemski, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Austin Riley, 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ha-Seong Kim, SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rowdy Tellez, PH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brewer Hicklen, PR/LF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 32 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
2B: Albies. BB: Acuña, Tellez.
Dodgers Batting
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mookie Betts, SS | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Freddie Freeman, 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Teoscar Hernández, LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Muncy, PH/3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Smith, C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Shohei Ohtani, DH | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miguel Rojas, 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tommy Edman, PH/2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andy Pages, CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Kyle Tucker, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kiké Hernández, 3B/LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Totals | 36 | 3 | 8 | 3 |
HR: K. Hernández, Freeman.
Pitching
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL: Chris Sale (L) | 5.0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Dylan Dodd | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dylan Lee | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Brent Suter | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Raisel Iglesias | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| LAD: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (W) | 7.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Tanner Scott | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Edwin Díaz (S) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Full schedule and results: Braves vs. Dodgers NLDS 2026. Earlier in the series: Game 1 recap, inning by inning.