Will Dr. K save 'ATL in crisis'? ‘PHI’s natural enemy enters the 4th round’
Can the Atlanta Braves, who suffered another nightmare at Citizens Bank Park like last year, lead the series to their home stadium with the strikeout king?
Atlanta held Game 3 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, on the 12th (Korean time).
On this day, Atlanta gave up the first run in the third inning, but lost 2-10 after hitting six home runs. As a result, Philadelphia leads the series 2-1.
Now, Atlanta has to pack up if it loses just one of the remaining two games. A team that won 104 games in the regular season will withdraw after just four games in the postseason.
Accordingly, Atlanta, which will put forth an all-out effort in Game 4, will appoint Spencer Strider (25), the league's strikeout king this season, as its starting pitcher.
Strider pitched well in the first game on the 8th, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs (1 earned) with 8 strikeouts in 7 innings. The team lost 0-3, but Strider's pitching silenced the Philadelphia batting lineup.
The problem is that unlike the first game, the fourth game will be held at Citizens Bank Park. Also, the Philadelphia batting lineup exploded with six home runs in Game 3.
In particular, Strider suffered a nightmare in last year's NLDS Game 3 away at Citizens Bank Park, allowing 5 runs in 2 1/3 innings. However, Strider was injured at the time.
Strider appeared in 4 games against Philadelphia this season, recording 4 wins, no losses, and an ERA of 2.42. In particular, the away average ERA at Citizens Bank Park reached 1.38.
However, due to the nature of the postseason stage, regular season records are not of much use as a reference. This is especially true for games played at Citizens Bank Park, the loudest stadium in the major leagues.
Atlanta, a team with 104 wins in the regular season, is in crisis. Attention is being paid to whether Strider, who ranked highest in this category with 281 strikeouts this season, can save Atlanta.