Dodgers Turn to Snell to Avoid Historic Deficit in NLCS

The National League Championship Series heads to Los Angeles with the Milwaukee Brewers holding a commanding 2-0 lead over the Dodgers. Game 3 is set to feature Robert Gasser on the mound for Milwaukee against the Dodgers' Blake Snell.

Teams that fall behind 0-2 in a best-of-seven series have historically had a slim chance of advancing, winning only about 15% of the time. Historically, only six teams have ever come back from an 0-2 deficit, with three of those instances occurring in the past six seasons.

The Brewers have demonstrated an ability to win in various ways, taking Game 1 with a late rally that included a game-tying home run and a subsequent walk, bunt, and single to secure the lead. Game 2 saw them rely on station-to-station baseball and a crucial home run from William Contreras. Milwaukee has also shown resilience, coming back from early deficits in both games.

Milwaukee's pitching staff has been a key factor. Their starters have been reliable, and the bullpen has performed exceptionally well. Tonight, Gasser, who allowed three hits and one earned run in four innings during his lone postseason start, will aim to continue this trend. While Gasser's prior postseason start resulted in a 3-1 win, the Dodgers have had success against him this season, winning both of their previous matchups and hitting .312 against him.

The Dodgers, despite not playing poorly, have struggled to capitalize on opportunities. Game 1 saw them with a perceived offensive advantage but unable to secure timely hits. Their bullpen was largely responsible for the Game 2 loss, a concerning sign given the team's pitching depth. The Dodgers' starting rotation is considered one of the deepest in baseball history, with the ability to deploy an ace in any game.

Snell, the Dodgers' ace for Game 3, made his first postseason start against the Braves, allowing three hits and one earned run over 3.2 innings. He recorded five strikeouts but also issued five walks, an anomaly compared to his regular-season walk rate. Snell has historically held the Brewers to a .172 batting average throughout their careers, a figure that drops to .095 if Gary Sanchez is excluded from the lineup.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the Dodgers aim to win Game 3 to avoid falling into a deeper hole. The team's offense is expected to perform, and there's a possibility of Shohei Ohtani breaking out. The expectation is for the Dodgers to score over 3.5 runs in the game, though a high-scoring affair is not anticipated.