PSO Premium Review: NLCS Game 2 & ALCS Game 3

1. Ian Anderson gives the Braves ANOTHER potential future ace

Atlanta has been one of the most successful teams at developing promising young pitchers as they seem to always have a plethora of promising hurlers on the rise. Ian Anderson looks to be the next in line as he has followed up a tremendous debut 2020 season (1.95 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, 41 K/14 BB in 32.1 IP) with an incredible introduction to postseason baseball. While it’s hard to see Anderson (or almost any pitcher) repeat this level of production over an entire 162-game season, he has fully showcased the All-Star caliber stuff that led the Braves to taking him with the third overall pick in 2016. 

2. 2020 Rays are very similar to the mid-2010s Royals

One of the most surprising teams to win the World Series over the last decade can definitely be the 2015 Kansas City Royals. Maybe not entering that specific season as they were just coming off an AL pennant, but from an overall standpoint, considering they lacked star talent or a dominant rotation that usually lifts teams to the title. Instead, they won games and more importantly postseason battles because of their incredible defense, speed on the base paths, and a lockdown bullpen that came through when it matters. Sound familiar? That’s basically the same blueprint these Tampa Bay Rays have used to get past the powerhouse Yankees and are now on the verge of sweeping Houston. On paper, the Rays don’t look like a Championship-caliber squad, but in between the lines, this team is dangerous… Very dangerous. 

3. Dodgers may have turned the series around despite the loss

Anyone looking at the Braves-Dodgers series from the surface might believe it’s a wrap considering Atlanta has a 2-0 lead, and the stat from yesterday showed teams are 22-0 since 2004 after taking a 2-0 series lead in a seven-game series. However, the final three innings of Game 2 might’ve shown the Dodgers figured something out. After all, the Braves were on the cusp of breaking records with their stinginess on the mound until the seventh inning came around and LA finally got over the hump with some runs on the board. It was too little too late as they dug themselves into a 7-0 hole after Clayton Kershaw’s late scratch due to back spasms. However, don’t count out the best team in the league as they might’ve discovered something late in Game 2 that carries them to a few wins in the coming days and gets them right back in this series.