The Atlanta Braves did more than simply even their National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night. Their 3-2 victory at Dodger Stadium demonstrated something that could prove even more important as the postseason moves deeper into October: Atlanta has multiple ways to win.

After dropping Game 1, the Braves walked into Game 2 facing questions about how they would handle their pitching situation against one of baseball’s most dangerous lineups. Instead, Atlanta pieced together an impressive bullpen performance, received timely hitting from Michael Harris II and got important contributions from players such as Mauricio Dubón.

Dubón’s message afterward perhaps captured the Braves’ mindset better than anything else.

“We don’t give up. I think that’s the big one.”

That mentality could become one of Atlanta’s defining advantages as the series shifts to Truist Park with the Braves and Dodgers tied at one game apiece.

DUBÓN’S MESSAGE WAS ABOUT MORE THAN ONE GAME

Dubón’s RBI infield single helped Atlanta strike first in the opening inning, but his biggest contribution may have come after the final out.

The veteran utility player emphasized the importance of teammates accepting different responsibilities and supporting one another. His “passing the baton” philosophy perfectly reflected what happened on the field.

Atlanta did not receive one overwhelming individual performance that carried the entire team.

Instead, different players made important contributions at different moments.

That is precisely the type of formula teams need in October.

A postseason roster cannot depend on one superstar producing every night. Pitchers get tired, opposing teams make adjustments and even the best hitters eventually run into difficult matchups.

The Braves showed they can survive those situations by finding contributions throughout the roster.

MICHAEL HARRIS II BECAME THE OFFENSIVE CATALYST

If Dubón represented the team’s collective mentality, Michael Harris II provided the offensive spark.

Harris delivered a spectacular performance, collecting a triple and a double while scoring a run and driving in two runs in Atlanta’s 3-2 victory. His extra-base hitting repeatedly put pressure on the Dodgers and helped the Braves manufacture the offense they needed.

His performance was particularly significant because the Braves did not overwhelm Los Angeles offensively.

They simply capitalized when opportunities appeared.

That distinction matters.

Against a team as talented as the Dodgers, Atlanta may not always score five or six runs. The Braves may instead have to win games by scoring three runs, limiting mistakes and making the most of every baserunner.

Game 2 was an excellent example of that formula.

ATLANTA’S BULLPEN DELIVERED WHEN IT MATTERED MOST

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Atlanta’s pitching strategy.

Rather than using Chris Sale as its primary starter, the Braves leaned on a bullpen-heavy approach. Ray Kerr provided an important opening stretch before Didier Fuentes took over and delivered one of the most impressive performances of the night.

Fuentes recorded 11 outs and surrendered only one run, a ninth-inning solo home run by Max Muncy. His ability to handle such a significant workload gave Atlanta a chance to protect its lead while preserving other pitching options.

That was an enormous development for the Braves.

The Dodgers entered the postseason with considerable pitching depth, but Atlanta demonstrated that it could counter that advantage through strategic bullpen usage.

Manager Walt Weiss essentially turned the game into a series of pitching matchups, and his players executed.

THE DODGERS HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITIES

The final score might make the game look closer than it actually felt at certain moments.

Los Angeles had opportunities to take control, but the Dodgers repeatedly failed to convert with runners in scoring position.

They finished 0-for-8 in those situations, a statistic that ultimately proved decisive.

Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy both hit solo home runs, but Atlanta prevented Los Angeles from producing the larger inning that could have changed the game.

That will almost certainly be one of the biggest areas Dave Roberts’ club looks to correct.

The Dodgers have too much offensive talent to consistently leave opportunities unused.

SHOHEI OHTANI WILL BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORYLINES

Shohei Ohtani finished Game 2 with one hit in four at-bats, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated afterward that there were no health concerns.

The bigger issue was plate discipline.

Atlanta’s pitchers were able to get Ohtani to chase pitches outside the strike zone, limiting his ability to make consistently strong contact. That will become especially important in Game 3, when Chris Sale is expected to challenge Los Angeles with a very different style of pitching.

Ohtani does not need to be perfect for the Dodgers to win.

But Atlanta knows that limiting his opportunities could dramatically improve its chances of advancing.

CHRIS SALE CHANGES THE EQUATION FOR GAME 3

The Braves’ decision to save Chris Sale for Game 3 suddenly looks extremely important.

Atlanta sacrificed a conventional starting-pitcher approach in Game 2 and was rewarded with a series split on the road.

Now Sale can take the mound with the series tied.

That changes the strategic equation.

Instead of asking the bullpen to carry another entire game, Atlanta can turn to one of its most experienced postseason pitchers and attempt to seize control of the series at home.

The Dodgers are expected to counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, creating another high-profile pitching matchup.

The Braves could therefore look back on their Game 2 strategy as one of the most important decisions of the series.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE IS NOW BACK WITH ATLANTA

Winning one game at Dodger Stadium was already valuable.

But winning Game 2 means Atlanta returns home with the series tied and home-field advantage restored.

That is a significant shift from where the Braves stood after Game 1.

The Dodgers won the opener 5-3, but Atlanta responded immediately rather than allowing Los Angeles to build momentum.

The Braves also have a strong recent history against the Dodgers. Atlanta won five of six regular-season meetings between the clubs in 2026, including a three-game sweep at Truist Park in August.

That does not guarantee anything in a playoff series, but it provides another reason for Atlanta to believe it can compete with Los Angeles.

WHY DUBÓN’S MESSAGE COULD MATTER IN OCTOBER

The phrase “we don’t give up” may sound simple, but it reflects an important postseason truth.

Baseball games rarely unfold exactly as expected.

A starting pitcher can struggle. A star hitter can go quiet. A bullpen can suddenly become the difference-maker. A utility player can produce a crucial RBI. A defensive mistake can change an inning.

Championship teams have to respond to those moments.

Atlanta did exactly that in Game 2.

When the Braves needed an early run, Dubón delivered.

When they needed extra-base hits, Harris stepped forward.

When they needed innings from unexpected pitchers, Kerr and Fuentes answered.

And when the Dodgers threatened in the ninth inning, Raisel Iglesias closed the door.

That is the “passing the baton” mentality Dubón was describing.

THE BRAVES MAY HAVE FOUND THEIR POSTSEASON IDENTITY

The biggest takeaway from Game 2 may not be any single statistic.

It may be the identity Atlanta is developing.

The Braves are showing that they can win games through different formulas.

They can rely on their stars, but they can also win when lesser-known players become important contributors.

They can use traditional starting pitching, but they can also survive an unconventional bullpen game.

And perhaps most importantly, they have demonstrated an ability to respond after losing.

That resilience becomes increasingly valuable as a postseason series gets deeper.

WHAT ATLANTA NEEDS TO DO NEXT

The Braves should resist the temptation to believe the series is suddenly theirs.

A 1-1 series is still wide open.

The Dodgers remain loaded with elite talent, and Los Angeles will have opportunities to respond in Atlanta.

For Atlanta, the priorities are straightforward.

The Braves need to continue limiting free opportunities, capitalize with runners in scoring position and avoid allowing the Dodgers’ biggest hitters to dictate the game.

Offensively, keeping Harris productive could be particularly important.

If Harris continues creating extra-base opportunities while Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and the rest of Atlanta’s lineup provide support, the Braves could put enormous pressure on the Dodgers’ pitching staff.

THE PREDICTION: THIS SERIES COULD GO THE DISTANCE

After two games, it is difficult to separate these teams.

The Dodgers have the star power.

The Braves have demonstrated resilience and versatility.

Game 2 also showed that Atlanta’s pitching depth may be more dangerous than initially assumed.

That makes a five-game series increasingly plausible.

If Atlanta can win Game 3 behind Sale, the pressure will shift dramatically onto Los Angeles. But if the Dodgers respond in Atlanta, the series could head back to Los Angeles with everything still undecided.

Either way, the Braves have already accomplished something important.

They refused to let the Game 1 loss define the series.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Atlanta’s 3-2 victory was important because it tied the NLDS.

But the deeper significance lies in how the Braves won.

They received timely production from Dubón and Harris, trusted their bullpen, survived several dangerous Dodgers scoring opportunities and closed out the game under intense pressure.

Dubón’s message afterward captured the team’s mindset perfectly: Atlanta believes it can keep fighting regardless of what happens next.

Now the series moves to Atlanta, where the Braves will have the opportunity to turn that resilience into a series advantage.

If the Braves continue getting contributions from throughout the roster, this could become much more than a competitive NLDS.

It could be the beginning of a legitimate October run.