Division Series takeaways: D-backs eliminate Dodgers, Phillies thump Braves and more

The day after the Texas Rangers moved on to the American League Championship Series by sweeping the Baltimore Orioles, the 2023 MLB playoffs continued with the three remaining division series matchups.

The Philadelphia Phillies kicked off Wednesday by taking a 2-1 series lead over the Atlanta Braves with a resounding 10-2 win that saw them tie a postseason record of six home runs in one game. The Minnesota Twins became the second team eliminated from the division series after they lost 3-2 to the Houston Astros, who will be advancing to their seventh straight ALCS. The Los Angeles Dodgers were swept out of the postseason by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of their National League Division Series.

We have all the action for you — from live updates and analysis throughout the day, to takeaways after the final pitch of each game.

Key links: What you need to know | Full playoffs schedule

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Takeaways

Arizona Diamondbacks 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 2: Only one 100-win team had never once held a lead in an entire postseason round. Now there are two. The D-backs, 16 games worse than the Dodgers this season, completed a sweep of their bitter rivals by following the formula of their first two NLDS games: jumping ahead early and suffocating their high-powered offense late. This time, it was four home runs in a stretch of six batters in the third inning against Lance Lynn, who led the major leagues in long balls allowed during the regular season. That proved to be enough thanks to rookie Brandon Pfaadt and Arizona’s bullpen, which has stepped up throughout the postseason. The Dodgers threatened in the eighth, down two with one on, none out and the top of their lineup due up. But Kevin Ginkel retired Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez in order, igniting an electric Chase Field crowd. Betts and Freeman went 1-for-21 in this series. That — along with their starting pitchers, who combined for 4⅔ innings in three games — defined their latest October disappointment. — Alden Gonzalez

What’s next for the D-backs? Arizona, in the playoffs for the first time in six years, will now advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2007 and only the third time in its history. It will await the winner of the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies and will not have home-field advantage against either opponent (the D-backs split their six games against the Braves and went 3-4 against the Phillies). Regardless, the D-backs will have four days off. Part of them might not want that, given how hot their offense is rolling right now. But their best path to advancing to the World Series is having Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly start as many games as possible, and for the likes of Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald to be as rested as much as possible. This allows that.

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Houston Astros 3, Minnesota Twins 2: Was there any doubt that we’d end up here? Seven straight LCS appearances for the Astros, extending their AL record and moving within one of the MLB mark set by the 1990s Braves. There was nothing dramatic about it, not this time. If anything, it was heading the Twins off in every moment that could have created a series-altering event. But the Astros just keep going. It’s something close to inevitability.

This time, the Astros have employed the simplest formula for winning in the postseason — power on offense and power relief on the other side of the ball. The Astros hit 10 homers over the four games and 80% of their scoring against Minnesota came via the long ball.

Meanwhile, manager Dusty Baker’s bullpen is idea for this time of year. The stuff is vicious and it comes from several sources in a deep unit. Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly, Hector Neris and Phil Maton complement each other well, shorten games and are rolling just when they need to be. And the Astros’ rotation, in the playoff schedule format, doesn’t need games to be shortened much. Not even an appearance by Byron Buxton could upend the inexorable Astros. — Bradford Doolittle

What’s next for the Astros? Now we have an ALCS that would once have seemed like a fever dream for a baseball-loving Texas fan. Houston set itself up nicely by halting the Twins in four because now Justin Verlander is lined up for the first game of the ALCS. On the other hand, the Astros may come to regret edging the Rangers in the regular-season division race because the Astros’ season-long tendency of playing better away from Minute Maid Park continued in this series.

So after a labyrinthine journey, unlike any of the Astros’ other deep runs, we’re right back at the same place, the same time of the year. But with the Rangers coming down I-45, this matchup is going to feel different.

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Philadelphia Phillies 10, Atlanta Braves 2: After getting doubled off to close out a Game 2 win for Atlanta, Bryce Harper took vengeance on the Braves with two home runs in Game 3, leading the Phillies to a lopsided victory. Perhaps the reported comments from Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arcia — about the baserunning gaffe — may have fueled Harper as he stared down Arcia both times while rounding the bases.

The Braves took nearly two days to name a starter — that’s how unsure they were — and their decision backfired. Rookie Bryce Elder held a 1-0 lead for mere minutes before the Phillies erupted with a 6-run third inning, chasing him. There were no great choices for Atlanta on the mound. The loss of Charlie Morton continues to haunt the team. — Jesse Rogers

What’s next for the Phillies and Braves? Thursday’s Game 4 will be a rematch of Game 1, with Atlanta’s Spencer Strider heading to the mound against Philadelphia’s Ranger Suarez (though Suarez only pitched 3⅔ innings before giving way to the bullpen). The Braves need Strider to pitch like the strikeout artist he was during the regular season and an offense that has been quiet for long stretches of this series to show up — or this series ends in Philadelphia.

Relive the day