The Right Call By Weiss
Walt Weiss made a bold move by sitting Chris Sale for Game 2, and it already paid off big. The Braves managefr chose to “err on the side of giving him rest” instead of rushing the ace back on short notice. That decision led to a 3-2 win in Los Angeles and a tied series heading back to Atlanta. Weiss knew he wanted the best version of his pitcher for the big stage at Truist Park.
“At the end of the day, we want full-strength Chris Sale. …. Not sure you’re getting the best version of him pitching [Sunday]. We’re certain we will pitching him Game 3,” Weiss said. The math supports this choice. Sale threw 21 pitches in relief during the Wild Card round, which would have left him shaky on just three days of rest. By waiting, the team gets a pitcher who is fresh and ready to dominate.
Home Field And Hot Stats
Atlanta returns to Truist Park with a massive advantage that the numbers do not lie about. In Atlanta, the Braves secured a flawless 3-0 record as part of their 5-1 regular season series against the Dodgers. Their home field has been a fortress all year, as they posted 52 home wins with only two teams in the league having more. This is where the team feels most comfortable and where the crowd will be loud.
Per CBS Sports, the SportsLine Projection Model backs the Braves to win Tuesday night matchup. The model simulates every game 10,000 times and projects Atlanta a slight edge, projecting a 3.9-3.8 Braves victory.. Sale has been a monster at home with a 1.66 ERA in 14 starts this season. At this same park, he recorded an August victory over the Dodgers by pitching a five-hitter featuring 11 strikeouts and zero walks.
Why The Odds Favor Atlanta
The betting lines show the public is split, but the smart money sees what the Braves have done all year. L.A. is taking 56% of the handle, yet the Braves are the better pick for a home game with a rested ace. The matchup is essentially a pick’em with the Braves around -107 and the Dodgers around -108. With sunny skies expected and a high of 76 degrees, the weather conditions are ideal for the 6 ET start time.
To limit the Dodgers to 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position during the last game, Weiss deployed six different pitchers. That kind of bullpen depth works because of the days off, but now the team gets its main weapon back. The series is tied 1-1, and the momentum shifts when the best pitcher in the rotation takes the mound in front of a home crowd.
