2021 National League Championship Series
Team (Wins) Managers Season Atlanta Braves (4) Brian Snitker 88–73 (.547), GA: 61⁄2 Los Angeles Dodgers (2) Dave Roberts 106–56 (.654), GB: 1
Dates	October 16–23
MVP	Eddie Rosario (Atlanta)
Umpires	Jordan Baker,Lance Barksdale,Mark Carlson,Tripp Gibson,James Hoye,Jerry Meals (crew chief),Todd Tichenor
Broadcast
Television	TBS
TV announcers	Brian Anderson,Ron Darling,Jeff Francoeur, andLauren Shehadi
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Jon Sciambi andJessica Mendoza
NLDS	Los Angeles Dodgers overSan Francisco Giants (3–2) Atlanta Braves overMilwaukee Brewers (3–1)
← 2020 NLCS 2022 →

The2021 National League Championship Series was the best-of-seven series inMajor League Baseball’s (MLB)2021 postseason between the third-seededAtlanta Braves and the defending World Series champion and fourth-seededLos Angeles Dodgers, for theNational League pennant and the right to play in the2021 World Series. The matchup saw the Braves defeat the favored Dodgers by a score of 4 games to 2, sending the Braves to their first World Series since 1999, and in the process the Braves avenged their NLCS loss to the Dodgersthe year prior.

The series was played in a 2–3–2 format, with the Braves hosting the first two and last two (if necessary) games played as the higherseeded team.^[1]TBS televised all games in the United States. Despite having a worse record than the Dodgers, the Braves held home-field advantage due theirNational League East division title (the Dodgers qualified for the postseason as a wild card).

The Braves would go on to defeat theAmerican League championHouston Astros in the World Series, 4 games to 2, to secure their first World Series championship since 1995.

In 2023, the Braves’ upset of the Dodgers in the NLCS was ranked as the fourth biggest upset in postseason history byMLB.com.^[2]

TheAtlanta Braves qualified for the postseason as theNational League East division leader.^[3] It was their fourth straight NL East championship, having won it every year since2018. The Braves had the worst record out of all postseason teams, at 88–73, and they were the only postseason team with a win total under 90. In theNational League Division Series, they beat the favoredMilwaukee Brewers in four games. This was the Braves' 13th National League Championship Series (NLCS) appearance; however, they had not won an NLCS since1999.

TheLos Angeles Dodgers qualified for the postseason as awild card entrant, after they failed to win theNational League West for the first time since 2012.^[4] In theNational League Wild Card Game, they defeated theSt. Louis Cardinals on a two-run walk-off home run fromChris Taylor. In theNational League Division Series, the Dodgers defeatedtheir rivals, theSan Francisco Giants, in five games. This was the Dodgers' fifth appearance in the NLCS in six seasons, sixth in nine seasons, and 15th overall. While the Dodgers had a better record than Braves during the regular season, the Braves held home-field advantage in the NLCS due to their NL East division crown and Dodgers status as a wild card.

This was the fifth postseason matchup between the Dodgers and Braves. The previous meetings were the1996 NLDS (won by the Braves),2013 NLDS,2018 NLDS, and2020 NLCS (the latter three won by the Dodgers). The two teams also met in the1959 National League tie-breaker series, considered regular season games, with the Dodgers winning that series, two games to none, to advance to the1959 World Series. The Braves and Dodgers also shared the same division (NL West) for 24 years (1969–1993), where they finished in the top two positions in the division in1982,1983, and1991, all of which came down to the final week of the season.

This was the sixth time that teams met in a re-match in the NLCS in consecutive years,^[5] following the Cubs-Dodgers in2016–2017, Dodgers-Phillies in2008–2009, Astros-Cardinals in2004–2005, Braves-Pirates in1991–1992, and the Dodgers-Phillies again in1977–1978.

The Braves and Dodgers played six games during the regular season, with the Dodgers winning the season series, 4–2.^[6]

Atlanta won the series, 4–2.

Note that both teams had a player named "Will Smith"—a pitcher for Atlanta and a catcher for Los Angeles.

Max Fried started for Atlanta, whileCorey Knebel acted as anopener for Los Angeles. Atlanta took a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first, asEddie Rosario singled,stole second, advanced to third on aground out, and scored on awild pitch. The Dodgers tied the game in the top of the second;A. J. Pollock hit a two-out double and scored on a single byChris Taylor. The teams traded solo home runs in the fourth inning—Will Smith for Los Angeles andAustin Riley for Atlanta—leaving the score tied, 2–2. Fried left after six innings, having allowed eight hits while striking out five batters. A two-out threat by the Dodgers in the top of the ninth was ended when Taylor was tagged out after being caught in arundown between second and third. In the bottom of the ninth,Ozzie Albies hit a one-out bloop single off ofBlake Treinen,stole second, and then scored on a Riley single to left, giving Atlanta a 1–0 lead in the series.^[7]

Starting pitchers wereIan Anderson for Atlanta andMax Scherzer for Los Angeles.Mookie Betts opened the game with a single, followed by a home run fromCorey Seager, staking the Dodgers to an early 2–0 lead. Anderson waspinch hit for in the bottom of the third, having allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two batters. In the bottom of the fourth,Joc Pederson hit a one-out homer withAustin Riley on base, tying the game, 2–2.^[8] Scherzer left with one out in the bottom of the fifth, having allowed two runs on four hits while striking out seven. In the top of the seventh, the Dodgers had thebases loaded with two outs following two walks and ahit batsman;Chris Taylor then drove in two runs with a double off ofLuke Jackson, putting Los Angeles ahead, 4–2. With one out in the bottom of the eighth,Ozzie Albies singled off ofJulio Urías to drive inEddie Rosario from second, pulling Atlanta within a run, 4–3. Riley then doubled to deep center, scoring Albies from first and tying the game, 4–4. AtlantacloserWill Smith retired the Dodgers in order in the top of the ninth.Brusdar Graterol came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth; he recorded two outs and, withDansby Swanson at second, was replaced by Dodgers closerKenley Jansen. Rosario hit Jansen's first pitch up the middle, getting by Seager and driving in Swanson to give the Braves a 2–0 series lead.^[9]

Starting pitchers wereWalker Buehler for Los Angeles andCharlie Morton for Atlanta. In the bottom of the first,Mookie Betts walked, thenCorey Seager homered, giving the Dodgers an early 2–0 lead, as had been the case in Game 2. The Braves rallied back, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth inning.Freddie Freeman singled to open the inning, and with one outAustin Riley doubled.Joc Pederson then singled to score Freeman.Adam Duvall subsequently singled to score Riley and tie the game.Travis d'Arnaud walked toload the bases, thenDansby Swanson singled to give the Braves a 3–2 lead. The final run of the inning came on a walk toEddie Rosario that forced in a run. The Braves extended their lead in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by Duvall to bringOzzie Albies in, making the score 5–2. In the bottom of the eighth, a three-run homer byCody Bellinger with one out tied the game, 5–5.^[10] Betts doubled with two outs, scoringChris Taylor who had singled, to give the Dodgers a 6–5 lead.^[11] DodgerscloserKenley Jansen came in and struck out the side in the top of the ninth, giving the Dodgers their first win of the series. The Braves used five pitchers, with Morton leaving after five innings having allowed two runs on three hits;Luke Jackson, who was charged with all four eighth-inning runs, took the loss. The Dodgers used nine pitchers, with Buehler leaving after3+2⁄3 innings having allowed four runs on seven hits.Tony Gonsolin, who recorded the final out in the top of the eighth, got the win, while Jansen earned thesave.^[12]

Bellinger's home run in the eighth was just the third home run in Dodgers history that tied a postseason game in the eighth inning or later, joiningMike Scioscia’s in the ninth inning of1988 NLCS Game 4 andCarl Furillo’s inGame 6 of the 1953 World Series.^[13]

Julio Urías started for the Dodgers andJesse Chavez acted as anopener for the Braves.Huascar Ynoa had planned to open for the Braves, but he was replaced on Atlanta's roster earlier in the day due to right shoulder discomfort.^[14] Atlanta took a 2–0 lead in the top of the second on back-to-back solo home runs byEddie Rosario andAdam Duvall.^[15] A solo homer byFreddie Freeman in the top of the third, along with a Rosario triple and aJoc Pederson single to drive him in, extended the lead to 4–0. With runners on first and third with one out in the top of the fifth, Duvall hit a sacrifice fly to make it 5–0. The Dodgers got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth; with two outs and runners on second and third,A. J. Pollock singled, trimming Atlanta's lead to 5–2. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Dodgers third basemanJustin Turner exited with a hamstring injury after grounding into adouble play.^[16] In the top of the ninth,Dansby Swanson singled,stole second, and was driven in by a Freemanground rule double, extending Atlanta's lead to 6–2. Rosario's second home run of the game, with two men on base, made it 9–2. Rosario collected four hits in the game and was a double short ofhitting for the cycle, which would have been only the second cycle in postseason history. With a scoreless bottom of the ninth, the Braves took a 3–1 lead in the series.^[17]Drew Smyly, the second of six Braves pitchers, got the win after pitching3+1⁄3 innings and allowing two runs on two hits. Urías, who pitched five innings for the Dodgers, allowed five runs on eight hits and took the loss.^[18]

Before the game,Justin Turner was removed from the Dodgers' playoff roster, due to a hamstring injury, and was replaced byAndy Burns.^[19] The Braves removedCristian Pache from their roster, addingJorge Soler who had been on the COVID-19-relatedinjured list.^[20]

Starting pitchers wereJoe Kelly acting as anopener for Los Angeles andMax Fried for Atlanta.Ozzie Albies singled with one out in the top of the first, thenFreddie Freeman homered to give the Braves an early 2–0 lead.^[21] Kelly left with two outs, due to right bicep tightness, and was relieved byEvan Phillips.^[22]A. J. Pollock led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run; he was followed byAlbert Pujols who singled, thenChris Taylor homered to put the Dodgers ahead, 3–2. With one out in the bottom of the third, the Dodgers had consecutive singles from Pollock, Pujols, and Taylor, adding a run to make it 4–2. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Pujols walked and was followed by Taylor's second home run of the game, extending the Dodgers' lead to 6–2.^[23] With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Taylor hit his third home run, a solo shot making it a 7–2 game.^[23] Only ten players had previously hit three home runs in a playoff game, the first beingBabe Ruth in1926 and the last beingEnrique Hernández in2017.^[24] In the bottom of the eighth,Mookie Betts led off with single,stole second, and scored on a single byTrea Turner. With one out, Pollock hit his second home run of the game, coming with two men on base to grow the lead to 11–2. Taylor batted with two outs in the bottom of the eighth; with an opportunity to be the first player with four home runs in a playoff game, he struck out against Braves pitcherJacob Webb. DodgerscloserKenley Jansen pitched the top of the ninth, retiring the side in order as the Dodgers avoided elimination.^[25]

Prior to the game, the Dodgers addedDavid Price to their roster, replacingJoe Kelly due to right biceps tightness.^[26]Max Scherzer had been expected to start for the Dodgers, but he was scratched following reports of an arm issue.^[27] On the morning of the game, the Dodgers announced thatWalker Buehler would start on three days rest;^[28] he had pitched3+2⁄3 innings in Game 3.Ian Anderson started for Atlanta. The Braves took a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first, on back-to-back two-out doubles byOzzie Albies andAustin Riley. The Dodgers tied the game in the top of the fourth, asCody Bellinger hit a two-out single with runners on first and second, scoringTrea Turner. Anderson was lifted in favor ofpinch hitterEhire Adrianza in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Adrianza doubled with two outs, putting runners at second and third,Eddie Rosario hit a home run to put Atlanta back in the lead, 4–1.^[29]Brusdar Graterol relieved Buehler for the bottom of the fifth inning.^[30] The Dodgers opened the seventh inning with a double byChris Taylor and a walk by Bellinger;A. J. Pollock then doubled down the left-field line, driving in Taylor and leaving runners at second and third with no one out, and Braves' lead reduced to 4–2. The Braves'Tyler Matzek entered to pitch, relievingLuke Jackson, and struck outAlbert Pujols,Steven Souza Jr., andMookie Betts to end the threat. Matzek returned to pitch the top of the eighth and retired the side in order. Pinch hitterJorge Soler led off the bottom of the eighth with a double off of DodgerscloserKenley Jansen. Although Atlanta had runners at first and third with one out, then second and third with two outs, Jansen did not allow the Braves to add to their lead. Braves closerWill Smith came in to pitch the top of the ninth with a two-run lead. Smith struck out Taylor and Bellinger for the first two outs; Pollock then grounded out toDansby Swanson to end the game and send the Braves to theWorld Series for the first time since1999.^[31]

After the game, the Braves' Rosario was namedNLCS MVP; he collected 14 hits in the series, tying him with four other players (Hideki Matsui,Albert Pujols,Marco Scutaro, andKevin Youkilis) for the major league record of most hits in a postseason series.^[32]

2021 NLCS(4–2):Atlanta Braves beatLos Angeles Dodgers

During the off-season, the Dodgers signedFreddie Freeman away from the Braves. Playing in his first game against Atlanta atTruist Park on June 26, Freeman received a minute long standing-ovation before his first at-bat where he broke down and cried.^[33] Freeman's free agency proved to be controversial when it was revealed a few days later by sports talk radio hostDoug Gottlieb that Freeman's agentCasey Close had never informed Freeman of the Braves’ final offer, which was the same amount he eventually signed for with the Dodgers. Close, who Freeman cut ties with due to how his free-agent negotiations played out, filed a lawsuit against Gottlieb in July allegingdefamation. However, before the case could come before a judge, Doug Gottlieb recanted his statement in September viaTwitter, stating he "prematurely reported on the events and simply got it wrong". On the same day, Close and Excel Sports Agency announced they dropped the libel case against Gottlieb.^[34][35]

Like Freeman,Kenley Jansen would join the opposition by signing a one year free-agent contract with Atlanta.^[36] The former catcher turned ace reliever left Los Angeles as the all-time leader in saves for the club.

In2022, the Braves and Dodgers both had stellar regular seasons and it looked like a rubber match would occur against the2020 and 2021 NL Championship Series teams; however, both teams were upset in theNational League Division Series by the Phillies and Padres in their respective series. In2023, both were knocked off in theNLDS again, despite100-win seasons. In2024, the Dodgers broke this trend of disappointment, getting out of theNLDS (the first time a higher-seeded team won a round in the NLDS since the Braves and Dodgers both did so in 2020) and eventually winning theWorld Series, with Freeman winning aWorld Series MVP.

• 2021 American League Championship Series

• Bowman, Mark; Toribio, Juan (October 16, 2021)."Dodgers-Braves Game 1 FAQ".MLB.com. RetrievedOctober 16, 2021.

• Major League Baseball postseason schedule

• 2021 Major League Baseball season
• National League Championship Series
• October 2021 sports events in the United States
• Atlanta Braves postseason
• Los Angeles Dodgers postseason
• 2021 in Atlanta
• 2021 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state)
• 2021 in sports in Los Angeles

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