⚾ Why Fans Should Embrace This Wild, Unpredictable NLCS

The only predictable thing in this year’s Dodgers-Braves NLCS matchup is that there will be more unpredictability. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: All eyes are on Game 6 of the NLCS as this rollercoaster of a series rumbles along ... we take a look at an updated 2022 NFL Mock Draft ... and we share a must-see social media post featuring D’Ernest Johnson. We know the Los Angeles Dodgers can climb out of a postseason hole, even one that might appear impossibly deep. We know they can do it from this kind of deficit, at this point of the season, against this exact opponent – the Atlanta Braves – because it happened last year. Thursday night’s 11-2 victory narrowed the National League Championship Series gap and elicited all kinds of positive vibes while serving as a timely reminder for the Dodgers. After all, this was a 106-win team, the second-best record in baseball. And yes, this team already knocked off the season’s best record owner, the San Francisco Giants, in the divisional round. This is what champions, defending champions in this case, do. [STORY IMAGE 1] The problem is, this is how it’s been going for the Dodgers over the past week or so since they ran into the Braves once more. Gloom and seemingly certain elimination one day, buoyant positivity and an apparently seismic shift in momentum the next. “It seems the whole series we’ve been switching off games,” Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman told reporters. It has been a heck of a series and it’s also been an undeniably strange one, filled with unpredictable developments from unlikely contributors. As soon as it tilts one way, it hurriedly shuffles back the other. It seemed all but over just a few days ago, when the Braves led 2-0 and muscled their way to a solid lead in Game 3, only for Cody Bellinger to provide a rescue mission home run to perhaps save a season in which he’s looked nothing like a former National League MVP. [STORY IMAGE 2] But then the Braves bustled back into control, Game 4 dominated by the hot hands of a bunch of relievers that no one had tabbed as difference makers coming in. Once Jesse Chavez, Drew Smyly, A.J. Minter and Tyler Matzek had done their thing, the Dodgers were on the ropes once more. The most recent to-and-fro was on Thursday. Heading into the postseason, L.A.’s Chris Taylor was not in the starting lineup, but he blasted three home runs on the night, as Braves pitching stud Max Fried stumbled. With the comeback underway, the Dodgers are listed at +195 to turn the whole thing around and move on to the World Series ([per FOX Bet]( while the Braves sit at -250 to hold on and book their place in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1999. Here is where, in theory, it should be harder for Los Angeles than last time. There is no more uniqueness of a neutral site this season, meaning back-to-back wins at Truist Park, where Atlanta will be backed by vociferous support, is now a requisite. The visitors’ rotation, however, is set up nicely. “It makes sense to think that the Dodgers’ show of power and bullpen strength on Thursday puts them in good position to win behind a rested Max Scherzer in Game 6, but not very much has made sense in this series,” [wrote Helene Elliott in the Los Angeles Times](. [STORY IMAGE 3] Saturday’s matchup, with Scherzer going up against youngster Ian Anderson, will be the eighth time over the past two postseasons that the Dodgers have found themselves one defeat away from the start of winter. In each of the previous seven, they have prevailed. “We definitely don’t prefer elimination games,” Dodgers outfielder AJ Pollock said. “We want to eliminate other teams. I wish we put ourselves in a little better position.” If Scherzer can get them to a Game 7, Walker Buehler would be up. Manager Dave Roberts says he likes the guys he will be running out there. Why wouldn’t he? [STORY IMAGE 4] Local excitement in Atlanta is tempered by some trepidation. It was just five years ago that the Atlanta Falcons squandered a 28-3 Super Bowl buffer to Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. Fans in the area also suffered through Georgia’s heartbreaking national championship defeat to Alabama, then the Braves’ lost lead last year. “I think it’s something we know about but it’s something that we’re definitely on a mission to kind of dispel,” Anderson said. “We’re still in a good spot. The vibes are still good and we’re going to hop on a flight, head home, and be ready to play Saturday.” As this rollercoaster of a series rumbles on, the only predictable thing that remains is that there will be more unpredictability. But when there have been as many twists as this, who even knows what to predict anymore. [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... AJ Pollock, Los Angeles Dodgers: “I think elimination, not elimination, it doesn't matter. We feel good about our team and our chances.” Ben Verlander, FOX Sports: “As the series shifts back to Atlanta I just hope my friend Freddie Freeman knows my good luck wishes are still with him.” Tim Keown, ESPN: “There will be a Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, and the way it felt after the Dodgers' 11-2 win, there probably will be a Game 7. These things seem to happen that way — who knows why?“ [IN OTHER WORDS] - As he looks ahead to April’s NFL Draft, [FOX Sports Betting Analyst Jason McIntyre sees a QB at No. 1 of course, but which passer gets the call in his latest NFL Mock Draft]( - Yes, the 2017 Houston Astros cheated, but most of the current roster wasn’t on that team. [FOX Sports MLB Writer Jake Mintz highlights the Astros to root for](. - The debate continues as [FOX Sports Senior Editor Sean Merriman and College Football Writer RJ Young name the all-time greatest college football player from each of the 50 states](. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( If you had not heard of D’Ernest Johnson before Thursday night’s Browns-Broncos game, you weren’t alone. After losing both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to injury, the Browns handed the reigns to the former USF running back and he did not disappoint. Johnson rushed for a career-high 146 yards and a touchdown in the Browns’ 17-14 victory over the Broncos. Check out this tweet from former USF softball player Courtney Kramer, who points out that back in 2018, Johnson messaged every AAF team requesting a tryout. Here is an example of the direct message he sent. This is incredible. Way to go, D’Ernest! [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros (FS1, 8 p.m. ET) Xander Bogaerts and the Boston Red Sox take on Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros in Game 6 of this ALCS matchup. Northwestern at Michigan (Saturday, FOX, 12 p.m. ET) Blake Corum and the Michigan Wolverines host the Northwestern Wildcats in a Big Ten clash. Oklahoma State at Iowa State (Saturday, FOX, 3:30 p.m. ET) Spencer Sanders and the No. 8-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys go up against Breece Hall and the Iowa State Cyclones in a Big 12 showdown. Washington Football Team at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, FOX, 1 p.m. ET) Taylor Heinicke and the Washington Football Team travel to Green Bay to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Philadelphia Eagles at Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, FOX, 4:05 p.m. ET) Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles battle Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Oregon at UCLA: UCLA -2 Pick via FOX Sports' Jason McIntyre: After Oregon shocked Ohio State and UCLA was rolling in early September, this showdown was pegged as a massive game with playoff implications. Since then, UCLA lost to Fresno State and the Ducks lost to Stanford, so now this game only has Pac-12 ramifications. The Ducks are wounded, with star RB CJ Verdell and safety Bennett Williams out for the season, plus four other contributors have gone down in the last two weeks. Given the lack of transparency around injury reports and college football, there's no telling who will be on the field for Mario Cristobal Saturday in Westwood. But, one thing we know is that the Ducks have gone from three-point favorites to being small underdogs in this game. Ultimately, I'm rolling with UCLA in this spot. Look for Chip Kelly's new team to run all over Chip Kelly's old team, and the Bruins to win in a surprisingly low-scoring game. [WHAT THEY SAID] “Every great batter works on the theory that the pitcher is more afraid of him than he is of the pitcher.” — Ty Cobb [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2021 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, California 90213-0900