ATLANTA, GA — Puerto Rican Kiké Hernández started it for the Dodgers Tuesday night at Truist Park and Puerto Rican Edwin Díaz ended it, securing Los Angeles with a 3-1 victory in Game 3 of their National League Division Series matchup against the Braves.
Now in possession of a commanding 2-1 lead in this best of five NLDS over Atlanta, the back-to-back World Series champs are one win away from appearing in the franchise’s third consecutive National League Championship Series and 10th since 2008.
Victory formation! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/LGxhmDNuiC
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 7, 2026
Hernández, 35, of San Juan, Puerto Rico—known as October Kiké in part to his consistency to deliver for his team in the postseason dating back to his first few playoff games played in the 2015 NLDS as a Dodger vs. the Mets—did just that once again in the fourth inning Tuesday night, lifting the Dodgers up 2-0 on a two run home run off Braves left-hander Chris Sale.
A majestic shot from the three-time World Series champion, slotted in the nine hole, hit on a 1-0 89-MPH changeup to drive in Andy Pages.
His 17th career home run in the postseason, tying Aaron Judge, Jim Thome and David Ortiz for the 18th most all-time in MLB postseason history.
POSTSEASON KIKÉ IS HERE!
DODGERS LEAD! pic.twitter.com/yEi6bqvi0d
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2026
And similar to Ortiz across his native Dominican Republic, each of Hernández’s October homers have been heard and celebrated around his homeland of Puerto Rico.
Celebrating, too, was each Dodger in the visiting dugout, not just because of a 2-0 lead on one swing from October Kiké but knowing the frustrating season their teammate—the heart of Los Angeles Hernández had battled through, one of the toughest over his 13-year MLB career—playing in just 41 games in 2026 due to offseason elbow surgery and tearing his left oblique after returning in May.
“I didn’t know when it was going to happen, but the one thing that I knew was that I was going to be ready whenever Doc (manager Dave Roberts) put my name in the lineup or needed me to pinch hit,” said Hernández, seeing his name in the Dodgers starting lineup for the first time this postseason Tuesday night for Game 3 of the NLDS.
October Kiké struck again in Tuesday night’s Game 3 NLDS win for the Dodgers, a common theme for the San Juan, Puerto Rico native over Hernández’s postseason career – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
“A big-time player,” Roberts described him as, stating, “I said earlier, ‘we needed a little bit of that Kiké dust.’ He’s always prepared and loves moments like this.”
October Kiké’s most recent moment would have lost all its significance if it were not for the flamethrowing Díaz from Naguabo, Puerto Rico entering from Los Angeles’ bullpen to close the door on the Braves in the ninth.
A pressurized spot the Dodgers had paid the three-time LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year to execute in and trusted him to complete, which he did in Díaz fashion despite a lead-off double from Ozzie Albies.
Edwin Díaz closes out Game 3 for the @Dodgers! pic.twitter.com/GBvOqqwCeZ
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2026
“Today was a great win, we needed that win big,” the 32-year-old said following his third career postseason save and first in October as a Dodger. “They gave me the opportunity to be in that position and I just did my job, so I’m really happy and thankful for that. You know, they put a lot of trust in me during my process and today it paid off.”
Also making a winning impact in Dodger Blue were right-handed starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7 IP, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk and 10 strikeouts) and first baseman Freddie Freeman, who connected for a solo homer soon after Hernández’s in the fourth.
Looking Ahead to Game 4 of NLDS
In Game 4 of the NLDS scheduled for Wednesday, October 7th at Truist Park, the Dodgers, one win away from eliminating the Braves and appearing in the NLCS, will go with RHP Tyler Glasnow (5-2, 3.53 ERA) while Atlanta counters with RHP Tyler Mahle (7-10, 3.99 ERA).
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