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Why the Dodgers can win without Ohtani and why it should scaree the Braves

The Los Angeles Dodgers captured a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night in Atlanta during Game 3 of the National League Division Series. Los Angeles had entered Atlanta with the series tied at one victory each after the opening two matchups.

Despite alterations to the batting order, the Dodgers drew their entire offensive output from long balls to take the contest.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shifted Shohei Ohtani down to the fifth spot in the batting order for Game 3, marking the lowest lineup position Ohtani had occupied all season. Roberts explained that the change was a single-game adjustment designed to present a fresh look against Atlanta left-handed pitcher Chris Sale.

The switch did not disrupt the Los Angeles offense, which capitalized on power hitting later in the contest.

Kiké Hernández launched the scoring for Los Angeles in the fourth inning by hitting a two-run homer off Sale. In the fifth inning, Freddie Freeman added another solo blast.

Freeman's drive matched Hernández with 17 career postseason home runs, placing both players in a tie for the 17th-most home runs in Major League Baseball playoff history. The drives by Hernández and Freeman supplied all the runs the Dodgers generated on Tuesday, continuing a trend where the Los Angeles batting order has depended heavily on home runs early in the postseason.

Hernández continues to establish extensive marks in October baseball, having appeared in 94 postseason contests with the Dodgers, the highest total of any player in franchise history. Across his career in the playoffs, Hernández holds an .832 on-base plus slugging percentage along with his 17 home runs, connecting for a home run at an average rate of once every 17 at-bats.

The Game 3 result followed a tight Game 2 at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, October 4, 2026, which the Braves won 3-2. In the seventh inning of that meeting, Atlanta's Michael Harris II hit a run-scoring double to bring home Matt Olson.

Atlanta also claimed Game 1 by a 3-2 scoreline after an unconventional start. Reliever Ray Kerr, who grew up in foster care and went to junior college, opened the bullpen game for the Braves after being summoned the morning of the contest.

Kerr, who had returned to the majors following a two-year absence caused by Tommy John surgery and made nine regular-season appearances for Atlanta, commented, "All right, let’s get it. Just another Sunday, right." Kerr delivered 2.2 scoreless innings and struck out four.

Los Angeles faced pitching difficulties in Game 1 as starter Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner with the Dodgers, struggled with command, failed to keep Atlanta to one run for the majority of the game, and left following a brief appearance. Atlanta held Los Angeles to a single run until Max Muncy hit a ninth-inning solo homer off reliever Didier Fuentes.

Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias then closed out the Game 1 victory by inducing a pop-up after Roberts sent rookie Josue De Paula to the plate for his first postseason appearance.

This report also draws on coverage from Fox Sports, Orange County Register.

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Dodgers Drop Struggling Shohei Ohtani To Fifth In Lineup For Game 3 vs. Braves