Tyler Mahle shut down Dodgers earlier this year with SF Giants, now Braves need him to save their season

The Atlanta Braves had a chance to put the Los Angeles Dodgers on the ropes on Tuesday night but the reverse happened as LA beat the Braves 3-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five NLDS. Now, former SF Giants pitcher Tyler Mahle has the weight of both Braves and Giants fans on his shoulders Wednesday night as he is tasked with saving Atlanta’s season.

If Braves fans are looking for good news, Mahle had arguably his best start in a Giants uniform earlier this year against the Dodgers. On April 22 Mahle pitched seven scoreless innings against the Dodgers. He struck out five and surrendered two walks while allowing three hits.

That was the game when Patrick Bailey hit a three-run homer, basically the only positive thing he did offensively this year for San Francisco, to give San Francisco the lead late in the game.

Mahle hasn’t faced the Dodgers since then but that lineup from April is basically the same one the Dodgers have now so he knows that he can shut down these hitters because he has done it before. In Mahle’s regular season career he has a 3.15 ERA in eight starts against the Dodgers so he’s always fared pretty well against them.

This is obviously the biggest stage Mahle has pitched on, though. His only career playoff start was his solid outing in the Wild Card series against the Philadelphia Phillies when he pitched seven innings and only allowed one earned run.

Tyler Mahle has been dealing since joining Braves

He is arguably pitching better than he has in his entire big league career. After the Giants traded him to Atlanta at the trade deadline he had a 1.99 ERA in nine starts for the Braves so he’s been dealing ever since Atlanta’s pitching coaches helped him with his pitch mix.

While on the one hand that raises questions about why San Francisco’s pitching coaches weren’t able to get the most out of Mahle, at this time all that really matters is beating the Dodgers.

If Mahle can somehow deliver another great outing and send the series to Game 5 then maybe in some small way it will feel like the Giants beat the Dodgers. Atlanta already has a ton of ex-Giants on the team anyways so it’s close enough. 

It feels like most of the baseball world is cheering for the Braves right now so let's hope Mahle can keep on rolling and Beat LA.

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