When Joc Pederson blasted Mike Foltynewicz’s third pitch of the game for a leadoff home run, a reminder shot through the visitors’ dugout and on to Milwaukee, where the NL's other two squads are playing. The message? The National League still runs through L.A.
The Dodgers outplayed and flat-out overwhelmed the Braves in their postseason opener, posting a 6-0 win to take the series lead. Here are three thoughts on NLDS Game 1:
Hyun-Jin Ryu was locked in from the get-go in his fourth postseason start and his first time starting a series opener. With manager Dave Roberts electing to save Clayton Kershaw for Game 2, Ryu carried his regular-season brilliance into the playoffs with ease.