The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered their first defeat of the 2026 MLB postseason on Sunday as the Atlanta Braves took a 3-2 victory on the road to even up the NLDS at 1-1. It seemed like the odds were stacked in the Dodgers' favor, as the Braves had to deploy another bullpen game as they weather their lack of pitching depth. However, Atlanta's pitching staff, led by opener Ray Kerr, surpassed expectations yet again.

The Braves held the Dodgers to just six hits on the night, and LA only managed to get two people on base consecutively twice on the night. That is not necessarily a winning formula, and veteran Freddie Freeman, who has three World Series titles under his belt, knows it.

“Got to find a way to score runs without hitting home runs, so I think that's our biggest thing right now. Get guys on base, get that big hit, and hope that our pitching keeps doing what they're doing,” Freeman told reporters after the game, via SportsNet LA on X.

"Gotta find a way to score some runs without hitting a home run; that's our biggest thing right now."

Freddie Freeman (2-4, HR (1), RBI) talks with the media after the #Dodgers fall to the Braves in Game 2 of the #NLDS, losing 3-2 and evening up the series. pic.twitter.com/F8lP4bXki1

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 5, 2026

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The only runs the Dodgers scored on the night were on solo shots from Freeman, who hit his in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1, and from Max Muncy, who gave LA life with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and cut the deficit to just one run.

LA brought talented youngster Josue De Paula to pinch hit and come up with a magical moment to extend the game and bring the winning run to the plate. However, De Paula popped up to third base to end the game, and the Dodgers now head to the road having lost homefield advantage.

For Game 3, the Dodgers will be facing Braves ace Chris Sale, who threw a complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts during his most recent start against LA on August 27.