ATLANTA _ Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb will start Sunday in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers.
On Friday, Braves manager Brian Snitker said that Kevin Gausman would start Sunday, pending his availability after Friday's game, but Saturday afternoon Snitker announced that Newcomb will start.
Gausman has not pitched in the series.
"You know, the situation is kind of dire right now," Snitker said. "We need to win. 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.
"So we're going to let Newcomb get the thing off the ground. And I talked to Kevin, and he was like, whatever we gotta do. And I talked to Newcomb, and Newcomb was actually really excited. He felt good about it. And I told him that we need you to get this thing off the ground. You don't need to take a no-hitter into the ninth inning with a strike left or whatever. We just want to get this thing flying and be all hands on deck."
Newcomb pitched two innings against the Dodgers in Game 1 on Thursday night in Los Angeles. He gave up one hit but no runs, and walked one while recording two strikeouts, in the Braves' 6-0 loss. Newcomb threw only 25 pitches, 17 for strikes.
Against the Dodgers on July 29 at SunTrust Park, Newcomb lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning when on a 2-2 count, Chris Taylor hit a single to left field past a diving third baseman Johan Camargo.
Game 3 is scheduled to begin at 8:07 p.m. Sunday at SunTrust Park, with the Braves trailing 2-0 in the best-of-5 series after a 3-0 loss Friday night.
