The Los Angeles Dodgers, led by Clayton Kershaw, meet the Milwaukee Brewers, led by outfielder Christian Yelich, in the best of seven National League Championship Series, with Game 1 on Friday, October 12, 2018 (10/12/18) at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here's the series schedule: (All times Eastern) Livestream: Fox Sports Go Game 1, Friday, Oct. 12, at Milwaukee, 8:09 p.m, Fox Game 2, Saturday, Oct. 13, at Milwaukee, 4:09 p.m., Fox Game 3, Monday, Oct. 15, at Los Angeles, TBD, Fox Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Los Angeles, TBD, Fox *Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Los Angeles, TBD, Fox *Game 6, Friday, Oct. 19, at Milwaukee, TBD, Fox *Game 7, Saturday, Oct. 20, at Milwaukee, TBD, Fox Even with all their star power and deep pockets, all their booming hitters and ace pitchers, the Los Angeles Dodgers are approaching three decades since their last World Series championship. They're making another run at that elusive title. Only this time, Manny Machado is along for the ride. The slugging shortstop hit a three-run homer that wrapped up a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday, sending Los Angeles to the NL Championship Series for the third year in a row and fourth time in six seasons. This is what the Dodgers had in mind when they acquired the free agent-to-be from the lowly Baltimore Orioles back in July. They're hoping Machado is the one who turns Tinseltown into Titletown for the first time since 1988. "Can't say enough about him," Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. "A player of his caliber, there are so many expectations put on him." Machado had only three hits in a 3-1 division series victory over the Braves, but two of them were homers. He finished with six RBIs. "We prepared ourselves to get here," Machado said. "We're not going to stop till we get what we want." Clearly, nothing less than a World Series title will do. While the Dodgers went through the customary celebration that follows any postseason victory -- they doled out T-shirts and caps, posed for pictures in the middle of SunTrust Park, then doused themselves with beer in the clubhouse -- the focus turned quickly to the next round. The Dodgers will face the Brewers in the NLCS. Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee. "We all know that there's a lot more work to be done," Roberts said. "We have eight more wins to go." Los Angeles spent much of the season locked in a tight race with division rivals Colorado and Arizona, and required a one-game playoff with the Rockies to clinch its sixth straight NL West title. "We took a hard path to get to this point, but I do think it made us stronger and kind of galvanized our team," Roberts said. (The AP contributed to this report.)<doc-sep>Marietta, GA (30060) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds. Low 67F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds. Low 67F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.<doc-sep>Major League Baseball on Monday announced the start times for the first few days of the four Division Series, which get underway on Thursday. The National League Division is up first with a pair of games on Thursday, starting with the Milwaukee Brewers hosting the NL Wild Card winner (5:07 p.m. ET, FS1), followed in primetime by the Atlanta Braves at the Los Angeles Dodgers (8:37 p.m., MLB Network). The American League Division Series open Friday, which gives us at least one day of wall-to-wall action with four scheduled games. The Cleveland Indians will visit the Houston Astros in the first AL game on Friday (2:05 p.m., TBS), with the Boston Red Sox hosting either the New York Yankees or Oakland Athletics in the third game of the day (7:32 p.m., TBS). The Yankees and A’s play the American League Wild Card Game Wednesday night in New York (8 p.m., TBS), while the NL Wild Card Game will be at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night (8 p.m., ESPN), with the Chicago Cubs hosting the Colorado Rockies. Future game times will be announced at a later date, but here is the schedule we know for now, through Sunday (all times Eastern): Tuesday, Oct. 2 National League Wild Card Game: Rockies 3, Cubs 2 (ESPN) Wednesday, Oct. 3 American League Wild Card Game: A’s at Yankees, 8 p.m. (TBS) Thursday, Oct. 4 NLDS Game 1: Rockies at Brewers, 5:07 p.m. (FS1) NLDS Game 1: Braves at Dodgers, 8:37 p.m. (MLBN) Friday, Oct. 5 ALDS Game 1: Indians at Astros, 2:05 p.m. (TBS) NLDS Game 2: Rockies at Brewers, 4:15 p.m. (FS1) ALDS Game 1: A’s/Yankees at Red Sox, 7:32 p.m. (TBS) NLDS Game 2: Braves at Dodgers, 9:37 p.m. (FS1) Saturday, Oct. 6 ALDS Game 2: Indians at Astros, 4:37 p.m. (TBS) ALDS Game 2: A’s/Yankees at Red Sox, 8:15 p.m. (TBS) Sunday, Oct. 7 NLDS Game 3: Brewers at Rockies, 4:07 p.m. (MLBN) NLDS Game 3: Dodgers at Braves, 8:07 p.m. (FS1)<doc-sep>Drew Olsen reports that the Brewers will get early starts for their first two playoff games Thursday and Friday (times are Central): BREAKING: #Brewers playoff start times, per MLB. Game 1 - 4:07 p.m. Thursday Game 2 - 3:15 p.m. Friday — Drew Olson (@DrewOlsonMKE) October 2, 2018 With the Dodgers hosting their series with the Braves out west, these times aren’t a surprise. And we won’t have to wait around all day for the Crew’s games. For your TV planning:<doc-sep>
After sweeping the final four games of the season and coming back to win the division, the Dodgers open the National League Division Series Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. Their opponent will be the NL East champion Atlanta Braves. Before the weekend in San Francisco, the Dodgers were in line to play on the road — now we know in Chicago — in the NL wild card game. Thanks to Atlanta losing four of the last five games of the season, including the final two, the Dodgers ended up with home field for the first round. The Dodgers won five of the seven meetings between the clubs in the regular season, including three of four in Atlanta. In games started by Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Rich Hill against the Braves in 2018, the Dodgers were 3-0 while the trio posted a 0.90 ERA, allowing one run in 20 innings with 20 strikeouts and one walk. Hill could be a possibility for a Game 4 in the series. Kershaw and Hyun-jin Ryu are the likely starters for Los Angeles in the first two games of the series. They haven’t been officially named but manager Dave Roberts said that’s how the team was leaning during the celebration after Game 163 Monday. Walker Buehler is most likely to pitch Game 3, coming off his dominant performance Monday to beat the Rockies. The Braves will counter with Mike Foltynewicz in Game 1, the only announced starter to this point. Possibilities for Game 2 include Kevin Gausman, Anibal Sanchez and Julio Teheran. Gausman would be on regular rest after pitching Sunday and finished the season with a 2.87 ERA in a Braves uniform over 10 starts after he was acquired in mid-August from Baltimore. Foltynewicz gave up four runs on six hits and three walks in five innings July 27 at Dodger Stadium, with the Braves losing that game 4-1. “We’ve wanted Folty to be The Guy for a couple years, and right now, I think he’s establishing himself as our legit first guy,” Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters Tuesday. “It wasn’t a hard decision at all.” Snitker also hinted at lefty Sean Newcomb getting a start at some point in this series, saying how they pitch after Game 1 might be matchup oriented. Dodgers-Braves NLDS schedule Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 4 at Dodger Stadium, 5:37 p.m. PT (MLB Network) Game 2: Friday, Oct. 5 at Dodger Stadium, 6:37 p.m. PT (FS1) Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 7 at SunTrust Park, 5:07 p.m. PT (FS1) Game 4*: Monday, Oct. 8 at SunTrust Park, TBD (FS1) Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 10 at Dodger Stadium, TBD (FS1) *if necessary