NASHVILLE, Tenn. βΒ As the National League Championship Series (NLCS) of the Major League Baseball playoffs is set to begin Monday afternoon, three former Vanderbilt standouts will square off against each other with a World Series berth at stake.
Walker Buehler and the top-seeded Dodgers will face Dansby Swanson, Kyle Wright and the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, which will take place in Arlington, Texas.
The Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres in the divisional round, as Buehler earned the start in Game 1. The right-hander worked 4.0 innings of one-run baseball, allowing two hits while striking out eight to help Los Angeles to a 5-1 victory.
Buehlerβs Day ππ§: #Postseason Edition@buehlersdayoff π₯
NLDS Game 1: @Dodgers vs. Padres 8:38 CT on @FS1 #LATogether | #VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/Tprtbzt7fC
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) October 6, 2020
#ITFDB presented by @MichelobULTRA. pic.twitter.com/kx9CCfMFOm
β Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 7, 2020
Straight π ππ¬. β½οΈ β½οΈβ½οΈ@buehlersdayoff π₯#LATogether | #VandyBoys
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) October 7, 2020
In the other NLDS matchup, Swanson and Wright posted standout performances as the Braves swept the Miami Marlins to hand the franchise its first-ever playoff series loss.
Safe to say @LieutenantDans7 is hot right now π₯π₯π₯#MixItUp | #VandyBoys
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) October 8, 2020
Swanson launched two home runs across the first two games of the series, before registering a multi-hit outing in the game three, including a triple. The former first overall pick closed out the divisional round with five RBI.
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Two-run shot for @LieutenantDans7 π£#ForTheA | #VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/drmh2KTPpu
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) October 6, 2020
πΌπ£π€π©πππ§ π€π£π π₯@LieutenantDans7 π£πͺ#MixItUp | #VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/RFP1hrX9sA
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) October 7, 2020
In the final game of the divisional round, Wright turned in a spectacular performance in his playoff debut. Wright tossed 6.0 shutout innings, surrendering only three hits to pick up the win.
The ππ«π’π π‘π Way: #Postseason Edition@Kyle_Wright44 π₯
NLDS Game 3: @braves vs. Marlins 1:08 CT @FS1 #MixItUp | #VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/WP9f5DSZs3
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) October 8, 2020
Make that seven strikeouts for @Kyle_Wright44 π³
What a #Postseason debut π₯#MixItUp | #VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/VhuSQdYOaM
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) October 8, 2020
Wright on the money πͺ#MixItUp | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/m3aZH7A7JI
β Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 8, 2020
The right-hander struck out seven batters across his 88 pitches of work in his quality start, helping the Braves to a 7-0 series-clinching victory.
βThe question is, whoβs your game three starter in this series?β π€
We think @Kyle_Wright44 would like to have a word. π£π₯#MixItUp | #VandyBoys#Postseason pic.twitter.com/zl1dDIdZpV
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) October 8, 2020
That’s an All Wright postseason debut π pic.twitter.com/6iRtVGmp4G
β FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) October 8, 2020
On the American League side, Mike Minor posted three scoreless appearances for the Oakland Athletics, as they fell to the Houston Astros in the divisional round. Minor totaled 3.2 shutout innings of relief work, yielding two hits, one walk and striking out two across his three outings.
Seven former Commodores were named to postseason rosters, marking the most of any school. Additionally, Vanderbilt had 25 connections in the MLB playoffs between players and staff.
Most players in the #Postseason.
Good luck to our seven #VandyBoys, as the @MLB playoffs begin today. π#eVerythingU | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/UKr6PZdct6
β Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) September 29, 2020
Vanderbilt Alumni on MLB Playoff Rosters
Dansby Swanson β Atlanta Braves
Kyle Wright β Atlanta Braves
Walker Buehler β Los Angeles Dodgers
Vanderbilt Alumni on MLB Playoff Staffs
Jeremy Sowers β Tampa Bay Rays (Major League Operations)
