One Way or Another, the Script Is There for the Atlanta Braves

Well, the ending is there for the Atlanta Braves to author. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way in this NLCS, it's going to be a storybook ending — it's just a matter of whether it ends in triumph or heartbreak.

After Postseason defeats at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, 2018 and 2020 — the last of which included an infamous blown 3-1 series lead — the Braves find themselves once again up three games to one on the Boys in Blue, needing just one more victory to reach their first World Series since 1999. This series will either end in a poetic victory that's been a long time coming or a cruel defeat which would be unthinkable for any other city, but all too predictable for Atlanta.

Either way, it seems too perfect.

After a heartbreaking defeat in Game 3, the Braves bounced back Wednesday night to regain a stranglehold on this series and put their World Series hopes back on track. Eddie Rosario gave Atlanta two home runs, four RBI and 12 total bases to lead the offensive explosion and further solidify his case for NLCS MVP. His scorching hot streak in the Postseason has been a constant reminder of the unbelievable job Alex Anthopoulos did completely retooling this lineup at the trade deadline.

The four runs in the ninth made things considerably easier on Will Smith, but the rest of the Braves' bullpen did its job admirably throughout the entire game.

So it's all right there for the taking. Three tries to get one win, two of them at home if you need them. But nobody is celebrating yet. We've been right here before.

This is Atlanta's chance to write a different ending than it's written so many times previously. Game 5 Thursday night.