ATLANTA (AP) — Fresh off their Game 5 victory over the San Francisco Giants Thursday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Atlanta Braves tonight for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he aims to start ace Max Scherzer, less than 48 hours after he earned his first pro save in the 2-1 win. That’s if Scherzer says he’s good to go. Scherzer has pitched 12 1/3 innings over three appearances in the playoffs, allowing two runs and six hits with 16 strikeouts. Max Fried (freed) will start for Atlanta after Charlie Morton pitched on short rest in the Braves’ 5-4 clinching win over Milwaukee in the NL Division Series.
HOUSTON (AP) — Boston right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (eh-VAHL’-dee) will have a homecoming of sorts when he starts Game 2 of the AL Championship Series tonight against the host Astros. Eovaldi grew up in the Houston suburb of Alvin, also home to Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, and visited the Astrodome and Minute Maid Park often growing up. Rookie Luis Garcia starts for the Astros, who beat Boston 5-4 in last night’s opener.