H2: Two-Game Thursday kicks off MLB playoff action
H3: NLCS preview: Brewers aim for a spark at Dodger Stadium
The NLCS shifts to Los Angeles as the Milwaukee Brewers visit the Dodgers for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium. With Los Angeles holding a 2-0 lead, Milwaukee needs to flip the script to keep its postseason hopes alive. The starting pitching matchup features Aaron Ashby taking the ball for Milwaukee against Tyler Glasnow, who is tasked with continuing Los Angeles’ strong pitching performance so far in the series.
Key lineups bring a mix of youth and veteran presence as Milwaukee leans on Jackson Chourio in right field, Brice Turang at second, and William Contreras behind the plate. On the mound, Ashby will try to quiet a Dodgers’ lineup that includes a familiar mix of power and contact hitters. For Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani hits leadoff while Mookie Betts covers shortstop, and Freddie Freeman anchors the middle of the order. Tommy Edman adds some strategic pop at second base, Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy fill the heart of the order, and Enrique Hernandez plus youngster Andy Pages round out a balanced lineup.
What to watch: Milwaukee’s defense and baserunning will need to be on point to steal a game in a ballpark that has played well for the Dodgers. Ashby’s early command and the Brewers’ ability to thread hits against Glasnow will set the tone. For the Dodgers, continued bullpen cleanliness and timely hits from the bottom of the order could extend the lead in the series.
H3: ALCS preview: Blue Jays try to level the series in Seattle
In the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays travel to Seattle to try to even the ALCS at 2-2 after taking down the Mariners on Wednesday night. The starting duel features Max Scherzer taking the mound for Toronto against Luis Castillo for Seattle, a pair of high-level arms expected to push each other deep into the game.
Lineups show Toronto leaning on George Springer at designated hitter, George’s fellow slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first, and Daulton Varsho patrolling center field. Alejandro Kirk remains a crucial piece behind the plate, while Addison Barger adds speed and versatility at the back of the order. The Mariners counter with a lineup designed to strike early and drive runs with a mix of contact and power, leveraging the home-field advantage and crowd energy in Seattle.
What to watch: Toronto’s offense will need to translate early opportunities into runs, while Seattle’s defense must limit big innings. Scherzer’s experience in big-game scenarios could be decisive, but Castillo’s ability to mix speeds and keep hitters off balance will be critical for Seattle to keep the series within reach.
H2: Live updates: pregame lineups and in-game action
As the action unfolds, we’ll keep you updated with every noteworthy development: starting lineups, early inning trends, scoring opportunities, and pivotal pitching changes. Expect analysis on:
– How Ashby and Glasnow navigate the early counts and control the running game.
– Which hitters enforce lineup depth and take advantage of gaps in the field.
– Bullpen usage, matchup-driven decisions, and late-inning drama.
H3: Takeaways after each game
– NLCS Game 3: Immediate takeaways will focus on whether Milwaukee can break through against a Dodgers bullpen that has shown resilience, and whether Ohtani’s bat stays hot in the leadoff slot.
– ALCS Game 4: Key questions include whether Seattle can sustain offense or Toronto’s pitching trio can quiet the blue line of Toronto—relief arms, late-inning defense, and clutch hits could decide the fate of the series.
H2: Final notes and how to follow
We’ll provide postgame analysis and takeaways after the final out of each game, along with brief video recaps and updated brackets. For fans following the brackets, the updated series statuses are: NLCS, Dodgers lead 2-0; ALCS, Mariners lead 2-1. Stay with us for pregame lineups, live in-game updates, and expert takeaways as the two-game Thursday delivers critical postseason action.
Category: Sports > Baseball
Tags: MLB playoffs, NLCS, ALCS, Dodgers, Brewers, Blue Jays, Mariners, live updates
Image prompt: A realistic stadium scene during a daytime MLB playoff game, showing a group of diverse fans in the stands, players on the field in casual, real-game uniforms, vibrant but natural colors, no logos or text, capturing mid-game action with a clear view of the infield and outfield.
