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Commercial-News, Danville, Ill.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Dodd, Braves set for playoffs
- Story byCommercial-News, Danville, Ill.
- MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Dodd, Braves set for playoffs
ATLANTA — In the start of the season, Dylan Dodd was in the minor leagues.
But as the calendar starts to turn to October, the Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin alum will be taking part in the Major League Baseball playoffs.
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Dodd, who had have short stints with the Atlanta Braves for the last three years, made his fourth season with the team very memorable.
"Heading into the year, there were so many unknowns of where my career was going to go, so I think it has been a huge year as far as consistency," Dodd said. "Something that I speak on for every season is that I just want to be consistent and giving my elf a chance. It was the first time that I have been consistent for the whole year."
While Dodd has mostly been a starter, his most memorable moment had to have been on Sunday in a relief situation.
The Braves were up 4-2 against the Houston Astros and Dodd made sure it ended that way by striking out the three batters he faced in the ninth inning to give Atlanta the NL East title.
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"What a cool experience to be in," Dodd said. "That was my first big save situation and I was thankful to be in that situation and be able to collect those three outs."
After pitching two innings with three strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, Dodd has a 4-1 record with two saves, 53 strikeouts and a 2.22 ERA.
Unlike the first three seasons with Atlanta, Dodd is on the playoff roster this season and is ready to join in something he has only seen on TV: Playoff Baseball.
"I am super excited. I have been able to watch playoff games and they seem so different than regular season games," Dodd said. "Starters may not go as far and certain guys get pusher harder than others. I am super excited to get here We will see what happens and it all about who is playing well and the right time and who wants to go on a run."
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The Braves are in the final weekend of the season with a series against the Miami Marlins .
"We still want to finish strong, but we want to set our level up for the best success for the first game of the playoffs," Dodd said. " Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle may throw one time so they can get ready for game 1 and 2 and certain guys may not throw once or twice and there are some guys that will throw a lot. I am sure I will pitch a couple of more times, but I haven't heard of it."
Atlanta will start playoff action on Tuesday. Their wild-card opponent has not been named as of presstime, but will be determined this weekend.
"I think the wild card is right there for the taking, but ultimately, it comes down to us," Dodd said "We are not worry about who we are matching up with. It may change a few things as far as how we are going to pitch or our line up. We are all confidence in what we can do and it comes down to us executing."
