NL DIVISION SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 3, 2026

Walt Weiss

Dodger Stadium

Atlanta Braves

Postgame 1 Press Conference

Dodgers - 5, Braves - 3

Q. Walt, have you decided if Chris Sale will start tomorrow? Did today's outcome have anything to do with that decision? And if you do have to go another bullpen game, how difficult is this just to go back-to-back bullpen games?

WALT WEISS: We still haven't decided yet. The game just got over. We'll have some conversations about this. So not sure who's going to start. That's where we're at right now.

Q. And how difficult to navigate, to go Thursday, Saturday, Sunday --

WALT WEISS: It's a challenge. Even today was going to be tough for us to chase from behind because of how we emptied the tank on Thursday night.

We weren't going to pitch Fuentes from behind. It would have been 4 out of 5. Then he's at risk tomorrow in a game that we're up. Suarez was down because of the elbow, missing three months. We weren't going to use him at all.

So it was going to be really tough to chase from behind today. But you know what? I'd sign up for that every time to win the previous series.

Q. Is your decision on Chris contingent on how he comes in tomorrow, or might you decide tonight?

WALT WEISS: There's a chance we could decide tonight. Obviously if he felt great tonight, that's probably our answer. There's a chance we may wait until the morning to see how he wakes up.

Q. Was going with Dylan Dodd a possibility?

WALT WEISS: That was best-case scenario really. It's the most pitches he's thrown since 2025. Our best-case scenario was him getting back around Ohtani, and that's exactly what he did. He was outstanding. He did an unbelievable job for us. Great job by Dylan Dodd.

Q. I know one game can change everything. Let's say you go out there and win tomorrow. Just as you sit here right now, what gives you the confidence you have enough pitching to win 3 of the next 4 games?

WALT WEISS: Look, you've got Sale and Mahle still. Tomorrow a much more rested bullpen. Yeah, I don't have any worries about that, about having enough pitching. We've got plenty of pitching.

Q. Can you just put into words the job that Skubal -- it seemed like he had you off balance most of the game?

WALT WEISS: Skubal, yeah, he was really good. Looked like he was in top form today. He's obviously a really good pitcher.

Yeah, he was tough. We knew it was going to be a rough ride, but yeah, he did a helluva job.