Braves switch, will start Newcomb in Game 3
ATLANTA» Lefthander Sean Newcomb will start Game 3 of the NL division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and not Kevin Gausman, a Grandview High alum.
With the Braves trailing 20 in the bestoffive series, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker made the change Saturday.
The 25yearold Newcomb came within one strike of throwing a nohitter against the Dodgers at home on July 29. He pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Mike Foltynewicz in Thursday’s opener.
“We need to win,” Snitker said. “Not that Gausman doesn’t give us that opportunity, we like how Newcomb matches up with them and the success that he’s had against the Dodgers this year.”
Snitker said he discussed the change with general manager Alex Anthopoulos on the flight home after Atlanta’s 30 loss Friday. They agreed to the move Saturday afternoon.
Newcomb threw a careerhigh 134 pitches when he went 8M innings against Los Angeles in a 41 win on July 29.
Newcomb was 129 with a 3.90 ERA in his first full big league season, but had a 5.68 ERA in 10 lateseason starts.
The Baby Braves ran into backtoback dominant pitchers in Hyunjin Ryu and Clayton Kershaw in Los Angeles. Atlanta didn’t advance a runner past second base in Game 1 and twice got runners to third in Game 2, but couldn’t score.
“We need to go out there and string some hits together, a couple big innings,” shortstop Charlie Culberson said.
They might be hardpressed to do that against rookie Walker Buehler, who starts Game 3 for the Dodgers having drawn comparisons to ace Kershaw.
“Obviously, it’s a big spot,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said, “but he continues to kind of surpass all expectations.”
Buehler, a 24yearold righthander, last pitched on Monday, allowing one hit in 6M innings and striking out three in the NL West tiebreaker victory over the Rockies.
“I kind of look at it as like a baby step,” Buehler said about having pitched in a crucial regularseason Game 163. “Obviously, this will be my first playoff game.”
Snitker said he may move switchhitting secondbaseman Ozzie Albies up in the lineup to No. 2.
“We’ve got to take the safety off and start firing,” Snitker said.