Andy Pages sends Dodgers past Braves into third straight NLCS as Rays sweep Yankees 4-3

The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the National League Championship Series for a third year in a row. Andy Pages hit a two-run single in the seventh inning on Wednesday (US time) as Los Angeles won 4-1 at Truist Park in Atlanta, wrapping up their NL Division Series against the Braves 3-1.

The Tampa Bay Rays also went through on a busy day of MLB playoff baseball. They beat the New York Yankees 4-3 at Yankee Stadium to sweep their American League Division Series 3-0. The Cleveland Guardians, meanwhile, stopped the Chicago White Sox from sweeping them, winning 9-3 to cut Chicago's lead to 2-1.

Pages comes through in Atlanta

Atlanta went ahead first when a wild pitch let a run score early on. The game stayed close until the seventh inning, when Pages drove in the runs that won it.

The timing made it a good story. Pages had no hits in the first two games of the series. He also missed most of the last month of the regular season with a broken left hand. Manager Dave Roberts kept picking him anyway. Before the series, Roberts said simply, "I believe in him."

A road record and a three-peat chase

The Dodgers have now won five road playoff games in a row, going back to Game 2 of the 2025 World Series. That equals a club record.

The two-time defending champions are trying to win a third straight World Series. Only four teams have done that before, and the Dodgers need eight more wins to join them. NLCS Game 1 is on Sunday, 11 October, US time. Los Angeles will play the winner of Milwaukee against San Diego.

Guardians hit back against the White Sox

Cleveland would have been knocked out with a loss on Wednesday. Instead they scored nine runs on 11 hits. Jo Adell's three-run triple in the third inning made it 4-1. José Ramírez added a two-out, two-run triple in the eighth that scored Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey to make it 7-3.

Kyle Teel had given Chicago an early lead with an RBI double in the first. Chicago had won the first two games 3-0 and 4-3.

Rays complete sweep of the Yankees

Tampa Bay won the first two games 1-0 and 5-2, and Game 3 was close all night. Ryan Vilade homered to put the Rays 2-1 up, before Spencer Jones doubled in the tying run for New York. In the sixth inning, Victor Mesa Jr. hit a two-run homer off Max Fried to put Tampa Bay 4-2 ahead.

The Yankees got one run back in the bottom of the sixth. Anthony Volpe's drive was first called a home run, but a video review ruled fan interference and changed it to an RBI double. New York did not score again. Ian Seymour got the win, Fried took the loss and Bryan Baker closed it out for the save. The Rays will play the winner of White Sox-Guardians in the ALCS, which starts on Monday, 12 October, US time.

Brewers-Padres still to be decided

In the NL, the Milwaukee Brewers led the San Diego Padres 2-1 and were playing Game 4 at Petco Park late on Wednesday, US time. If Milwaukee wins, they reach the NLCS. A San Diego win would force a deciding Game 5 in Milwaukee.

For fans in Malaysia, the ET start times move to the next morning. Guardians-White Sox Game 4 starts at 5am on Friday, 9 October. A possible Padres-Brewers Game 5 would start at 4.30am on Saturday, 10 October. The NLCS opener on Sunday US time will be on Monday morning in Malaysia, and ALCS Game 1 will be on Tuesday morning.

Key takeaways

• The Dodgers beat the Braves 4-1 to win the NLDS 3-1 and reach a third straight NLCS.
• Andy Pages, hitless earlier in the series and coming back from a broken hand, hit the two-run single that won the game in the seventh.
• Los Angeles have won five road playoff games in a row, equal to a club record.
• Tampa Bay beat the Yankees 4-3 to complete a 3-0 ALDS sweep; Victor Mesa Jr.'s two-run homer was the difference.
• Cleveland beat the White Sox 9-3 and trail the ALDS 2-1; Game 4 is on Friday morning, Malaysia time.

FAQ

Who will the Dodgers play in the NLCS? They will play the winner of the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres series. Milwaukee led it 2-1 going into Game 4.

When does the NLCS start? Game 1 is on Sunday, 11 October, in the US, which is Monday morning in Malaysia. Fox and FS1 are broadcasting it in the US.

Who will the Rays face in the ALCS? They will play the winner of the White Sox and Guardians series, which Chicago lead 2-1. Game 4 is at 5am on Friday, Malaysia time, and the ALCS starts on Monday, 12 October, in the US.

Sources: MLB.com, Fox Sports, CBS Sports