The Atlanta Braves have decided to turn to one of their youngsters to save their season.
Atlanta, down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, announced Saturday that left-hander Sean Newcomb will make his first career playoff start in Game 3 at SunTrust Park on Sunday. Newcomb gets the ball instead of right-hander Kevin Gausman, who had previously been slated to start the game.
"The situation is kind of dire right now. We need to win," manager Brian Snitker explained to reporters on Saturday, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic. "And not that Gausman doesn't give us that opportunity. We like how Newcomb matches up with them and the success that he's had against the Dodgers this year."
Gausman, who was in the Braves' bullpen during Game 2 but didn't pitch, will be available in relief Sunday. Snitker added that all of his pitchers except for Mike Foltynewicz - who might be line for a potential Game 4 start, should the Braves extend the series - will be in the bullpen and available behind Newcomb.
The 25-year-old Newcomb posted a 3.90 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 160 strikeouts across 31 regular-season appearances (30 starts) for the Braves this year. In Game 1 of the NLDS, he came out of the bullpen to throw a pair of scoreless innings.
Atlanta lost the first two games of the NLDS in Los Angeles by a combined score of 9-0, becoming just the second team ever to open its postseason with consecutive shutout losses.
