The Padres' massive save
Real talk: The San Diego Padres were one loss away from a season-ending sweep, but they refused to fold. Tuesday night was a total grind, and Michael King basically put the team on his back. Fresh off starting Game 2 just two days prior, King stepped up as a relief ace, throwing 40 high-stress pitches across the eighth and ninth innings to secure the win.
He had a major assist from Xander Bogaerts, who was lowkey the MVP of the field, turning a game-ending double play and scoring a crucial insurance run. With the Padres' bullpen stretched thin—missing closer Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon—King was the hero they needed. The Padres are officially still in it, and the vibes are high heading into Game 4.
Dodgers strike back
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers showed everyone why they’re the team to beat. Facing Atlanta's ace Chris Sale, the Dodgers relied on their deep lineup to get the job done. Enrique Hernández absolutely crushed a two-run homer in the fourth, marking his 12th career postseason bomb for L.A.
Freddie Freeman also went deep, tagging his former teammate Sale for a rare homer. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was locked in on the mound, carving through the Braves with 10 strikeouts over seven innings. Sale actually had a historic start, striking out six in the first two innings, but the Dodgers’ power surge was just too much. The Braves are now facing elimination in Game 4.
Why it matters
It’s a massive momentum shift. The Padres have successfully avoided the sweep, proving they have the grit to push the series further, while the Dodgers have regained control of their series, putting the Braves in a "win or go home" situation for Wednesday.
