Braves win bullpen game over Dodgers — NL East roundup

The Atlanta Braves made their unconventional pitching plan pay off, grinding out a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a Division Series matchup built entirely around their bullpen.

Braves’ bullpen plan delivers 3-2 win over Dodgers

Heading into Game 2, the Braves had confirmed that Chris Sale would not take the mound, instead committing to another bullpen game against the Dodgers. That decision set the tone for a tightly managed contest, with Atlanta leaning on a string of relievers to navigate one of the deepest lineups in baseball and escape with a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles.

The result reinforces Atlanta’s status as a serious October threat after a 94-68 regular season that put them atop the NL East. Sale’s usage was already highlighted as one of the key questions of the Division Series, with his workload and role framed as central to how far the Braves can go this month. For at least one night, the relief corps answered the call without him.

Rest of the NL East already in offseason mode

Behind the division champions, the rest of the NL East is firmly into offseason planning. The Miami Marlins closed at 80-82, just shy of a .500 finish. The Philadelphia Phillies put up a strong 88-74 record but saw their run end before the Division Series. The New York Mets (74-88) and Washington Nationals (77-85) round out a division in which only Atlanta is still playing meaningful October baseball.

As the Braves battle the Dodgers in a marquee Division Series, the rest of the division watches from the sidelines. League-wide analysis of potential 2026 World Series matchups has centered on Los Angeles as a headliner, but Atlanta has begun to shape that conversation by taking a tight game off the Dodgers in this clash of heavyweights.