The Braves got just two innings out of starter Mike Foltynewicz in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Thursday, a 6-0 loss.
Foltynewicz allowed four earned runs, on two home runs, before departing while striking out five Dodgers.
The early exit means the Braves could decided to bring Foltynewicz back in the series, as a starter or reliever, after he threw just 50 pitches.
Foltynewicz was asked after the game if he felt like he would be available again.
“Yes,” he said. “Be ready tomorrow if they want me.”
Games 4 and 5 times
Should a Game 4 or Game 5 be necessary in the series, the times have been set. Both games will be televised on FS1.
Game 4 is scheduled to be Monday at SunTrust Park in Atlanta and will have a first-pitch time of 4:30 p.m.
Game 5 is scheduled to be back at Dodgers Stadium on Wednesday with a first-pitch time of 8:07 p.m. That would be the deciding game of the best-of-five series.
Notable
• The Braves lost their eighth consecutive postseason series opener Thursday. They last won a Game 1 in 2001, when they swept the Astros in the NLDS.
• The Braves have also lost eight consecutive playoff rounds (including the 2012 wild-card game), dating to the 2001 League Championship Series against the Diamondbacks. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that streak is the second longest in MLB history. Only the Cubs owns a longer such skid, losing 10 consecutive rounds from 1910 through 1998.
• The Braves' six hits in Game 1 were all two-out singles, as they advanced only two runners as far as second base.
• Freddie Freeman singled in the first inning of Game 1 and has now hit in all six of his postseason games (9-for-24, .375).
• The Braves have also lost eight consecutive playoff rounds (including the 2012 wild-card game), dating to the 2001 League Championship Series against the Diamondbacks. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that streak is the second longest in MLB history. Only the Cubs owns a longer such skid, losing 10 consecutive rounds from 1910 through 1998.
• Ronald Acuna joined two Hall of Famers as the only players in baseball history to lead off in a postseason game before his 21st birthday. Freddie Lindstrom did it seven times as a 18-year-old in the 1924 World Series for the New York Giants and Mickey Mantle led off as a 19-year-old for the Yankees in the first two games of the 1951 World Series.
• The Braves’ Game 2 starter Anibal Sanchez will make his eighth postseason appearance of his career. He entered with a 2-4 record and a 2.79 ERA in his first seven games.
