Game Thread: ALDS Game 4, NLDS Game 3

The postseason is back to a full slate of four games on Monday, or at least it was supposed to be.

The Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox were set to play Game 4 in Chicago, but they were postponed by rain. They’ll make it up Tuesday, which was previously scheduled as a travel day.

Instead there will be three games today, two in the National League and one in the American League. The Atlanta Braves hosted the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of their NLDS before this post was published, so let’s check in with them first.

Braves vs. Brewers

Looking back to Game 2, the Braves shut out the Brewers 3-0 at Miller Park, behind six scoreless inning from starter Max Fried and a homer from third baseman Austin Riley.

• Recap from Talking Chop
• Recap from Brew Crew Ball

In Game 3 today, the series shifted to Truist Park and Atlanta won again, by an identical 3-0 margin. This time it was starter Ian Anderson with five scoreless frames, plus one in relief from former A’s pitcher Jesse Chavez. All the scoring came on a pinch-hit three-run homer by Joc Pederson in the 5th inning.

• Recap from Talking Chop
• Recap from Brew Crew Ball

The Braves now lead the best-of-five series 2-1.

Red Sox vs. Rays

In the American League, the Boston Red Sox won a thriller over Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 on Sunday. It took five hours and 13 innings, but the Red Sox came out on top 6-4, with some help from a bizarre play at the outfield wall that went Boston’s way. Catcher Christian Vazquez hit the walk-off homer.

• Recap from Over The Monster
• Recap from DRaysBay

The series continues at Fenway Park, with the Sox holding a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five and the top-seeded Rays on the brink of elimination. Eduardo Rodriguez makes his second start after getting knocked out early in a Game 1 loss, while Collin McHugh starts for Tampa Bay after spending most of the season in the bullpen (37 games, only seven starts).

Rays lineup (away)

1. RF Randy Arozarena (R)
2. SS Wander Franco (S)
3. 2B Brandon Lowe (L)
4. DH Nelson Cruz (R)
5. 1B Jordan Luplow (R)
6. 3B Yandy Diaz (R)
7. LF Austin Meadows (L)
8. C Mike Zunino (R)
9. CF Kevin Kiermaier (L)

• RHP Collin McHugh

Red Sox lineup (home)

1. 1B Kyle Schwarber (L)
2. CF Enrique Hernandez (R)
3. 3B Rafael Devers (L)
4. SS Xander Bogaerts (R)
5. LF Alex Verdugo (L)
6. DH J.D. Martinez (R)
7. RF Hunter Renfroe (R)
8. C Christian Vazquez (R)
9. 2B Christian Arroyo (R)

• LHP Eduardo Rodriguez

How To Watch

• Date: Monday, October 11
• Time: 4:07 p.m. PT
• TV: FS1

Dodgers vs. Giants

The NL West heavyweights split their two games in the Bay Area, so now the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants down south for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium.

After getting shut out in the opener on Friday, L.A. bounced back with a 9-2 victory in Game 2 on Saturday. They took an early lead and then blew it open in the late innings, battering the S.F. starter and bullpen alike.

• Recap from True Blue LA
• Recap from McCovey Chronicles

Now the Giants go on the road, and they’ll have to face likely Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, fresh off a sharp but short outing in the Wild Card Game. S.F. counters with lefty Alex Wood, himself a former Dodger. He faced his old club three times this year and was decent in each start, but his team lost all three.

Giants lineup (away)

1. 2B Tommy La Stella (L)
2. RF Mike Yastrzemski (L)
3. C Buster Posey (R)
4. SS Brandon Crawford (L)
5. 1B Kris Bryant (R)
6. LF LaMonte Wade Jr. (L)
7. 3B Evan Longoria (R)
8. CF Steven Duggar (L)
9. LHP Alex Wood (R)

Dodgers lineup (home)

1. RF Mookie Betts (R)
2. 2B Trea Turner (R)
3. SS Corey Seager (L)
4. 3B Justin Turner (R)
5. CF Chris Taylor (R)
6. LF AJ Pollock (R)
7. 1B Albert Pujols (R)
8. C Will Smith (R)
9. RHP Max Scherzer (R)

How To Watch

• Date: Monday, October 11
• Time: 6:37 p.m. PT
• TV: TBS