Sale Dialed In for Epic Game 3 Clash With Yamamoto

Chris Sale v. Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

If you don’t want to watch tonight’s clash of pitching titans, then it is plausible that sports simply aren’t your thing.

A more compelling Game 3 matchup could hardly be drawn up.

Both pitchers are champions. Both are All Stars performing at an elite level, and both arrive at Truist Park in Atlanta with their teams’ seasons hanging in the balance.

For the Dodgers, Yamamoto is Hell-bent on leading Los Angeles toward a three-peat World Series championship. For Sale, a game of this magnitude is almost just another day at the office.

The 37 year-old lefty continues to show virtually no signs of slowing down, and with another brilliant season behind him, he is strengthening his case for eventual first ballot Hall of Fame consideration.

Yamamoto enters tonight with a 14-9 record, a 2.53 ERA and 182 strikeouts. Sale was even better statistically, going 14-9 with a 2.16 ERA and 200 strikeouts.

So Who Has The Edge?

Atlanta has already seen its fill of elite left handed pitching during this postseason, facing Tarik Skubal in Game 1 before taking advantage of some shaky command from Blake Snell in Game 2. Snell walked five batters in his 3 2/3 innings as the Braves eventually rallied for a 3-2 victory.

Yamamoto presents a very different challenge.

The Dodgers righty isn’t likely to hand the Braves many free opportunities. He is going to fill the strike zone, force the Braves to hit, and make them earn everything.

That doesn’t mean Atlanta should be intimidated.

Braves Are Ready

The Braves were effective against right handed pitching throughout the 2026 regular season, hitting .250 with a .730 OPS against righties. That included 142 home runs against right handed pitching.

In other words, Atlanta’s hitters are hardly walking into tonight’s game hoping Yamamoto suddenly loses the strike zone.

They are ready to hit. While the Dodgers probably have the more recognizable collection of offensive stars, it is difficult to justify viewing the Braves' lineup as clearly inferior.

Atlanta scored 742 runs during the regular season and posted a .718 OPS. More importantly, they went 5-1 against the Dodgers during the regular season.

That doesn’t guarantee anything for game three. It does, however, make the idea that Los Angeles simply has a vastly superior lineup difficult to defend.

Then there is the main event.

Sale v. Yamamoto.

Two elite starters with a very different pitching arsenal. Two teams that understand exactly what is at stake in a pivotal playoff game.

Sale’s recent brilliance gives Atlanta a slight advantage in my mind. He has looked completely comfortable on the biggest stages, and there is something about watching a veteran of his Hall of Fame stature take the ball.

Yamamoto though, has never shown much reason to doubt him when the spotlight gets brighter.

So who wins the pitching matchup?

Flip a coin.

One thing is certain for baseball fans.

This Game three showdown at 6 p.m. is an absolute must watch.