2026 NLDS Game Thread: Game 2 Sunday

The 2026 division league series got underway on Saturday. All eight remaining teams were in action. On Sunday, only the National League teams play with the American League teams getting a rest.

In the American League, the Chicago White Sox shutout the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in Game 1 and the Tampa Bay Rays shutout the New York Yankees 1-0 on Saturday.

With the division league series only being a best-of-five, Sunday’s National League Game 2s are very important.

San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 4:00 pm ET (Brewers lead 1-0)

The Padres and Brewers played the late game on Saturday, but will play the first game on Sunday. Propelled by a seventh-inning homer off the bat of William Contreras, Milwaukee slimly defeated San Diego 3-2 at American Family Field in Game 1.

The projected pitching matchup for Game 2 is Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA) versus Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47 ERA). King was sensational in the Padres’ Game 1 wild-card victory over the Cubs. He threw seven superb innings, allowing only one hit and no runs while striking out eight. Opposing him will be rookie 24-year-old Henderson. This will be his MLB postseason debut.

Padres Lineup

Fernando Tatis Jr. – RF
Dustin Harris – LF
Manny Machado – 3B
Ty France – 1B
Jackson Merrill – CF
Gavin Sheets – DH
Xander Bogaerts – SS
Luis Campusano – C
Jake Cronenworth – 2B

Starting Pitcher: Michael King

Brewers Lineup

Jackson Chourio – LF
Brice Turang – 2B
Jake Bauers – 1B
William Contreras – C
Garrett Mitchell – CF
Christian Yelich – DH
Sal Frelick – RF
Cooper Pratt – SS
David Hamilton – 3B

Starting Pitcher: Logan Henderson

Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:00 pm ET (Dodgers lead 1-0)

The Los Angeles Dodgers just keep trudging along. Poised to be the first team to three-peat since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, Los Angeles got off to a strong start on Saturday. They defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-3 behind a strong start from superstar Tarik Skubal (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO). Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, and Max Muncy all homered in the Game 1 victory.

Atlanta has yet to name a starter for Game 2, but it is likely to be Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16 ERA). Meanwhile, Blake Snell (4-1, 1.90 ERA) is slated to go pitch for Los Angeles. Sale appeared in two of the three games for Atlanta against Philadelphia. He tossed 6 1/3 innings as the starter of Game 1, then threw 1 1/3 innings in a Game 3 victory out of the bullpen. As for Snell, he was limited to nine starts and 42 2/3 in the 2026 regular season. Snell made one appearance on May 9, then did not pitch again until August 11.