When Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a 3–1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, October 17, 2025, the entire stadium erupted at Dodger Stadium. The win marked a clean sweep in the 2025 National League Championship SeriesLos Angeles, CA and sent the Dodgers marching toward the World Series for the first time since 2020.
Backdrop: A Season of Dominance and Near‑Misses
The Dodgers entered the postseason with a 93–69 record, boasting a league‑best 52–29 mark at home. Their opponents, the Brewers, posted a solid 97–65 ledger but struggled on the road, going 45–36 away from Milwaukee. Both clubs had built reputations as elite defensive units; the Brewers were even touted as "one of the better defensive teams in baseball" by pre‑series analysts.
Yet the narrative going into the NLCS was all about pitching. Los Angeles had allowed one run or fewer in each of the previous three games, while Milwaukee could muster only a single run across the entire series. In that context, manager Dave Roberts felt comfortable leaning on his rotation and trusting the bullpen to close out games.
Game 4: Ohtani’s Dual‑Threat Emerges
The early innings felt like a déjà vu. Teoscar Hernández ripped a line drive to right that sparked a three‑run first inning, giving the Dodgers a 3–0 cushion. But the real headline‑making moment arrived in the fourth when Shohei Ohtani, designated hitter #17, stepped up to the plate. After a quiet offensive start to the series, Ohtani delivered a two‑run homer that sent the crowd into a frenzy. "He can put his stamp on the NLCS," Roberts had said before the game, and Ohtani answered with a slam that will be replayed for years.
Ohtani also contributed on the mound, striking out three Brewers batters in two innings of relief—a rare, historic dual‑role performance that reminded fans why he’s the only player to regularly pitch and hit at an All‑Star level.
In the ninth, Craig Kimbrel took over as the unofficial closer. After Sal Frelick reached base on a single, Caleb Duran lofted a fly ball that Hernández prudently corralled for the final out. When the umpire called the game, the announcers declared, "The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the National League pennant. They sweep the Brewers on the greatest night of baseball by an individual player in the history of this sport."
Stat Sheet: Numbers that Tell the Story
- Final Score: Dodgers 3, Brewers 1
- Series Result: Dodgers win 4–0
- Ohtani’s line: 1‑0, 2‑RBI HR, 2 K (relief)
- Hernández’s postseason total: 11 RBI in nine games
- Pitching: Dodgers allowed ≤1 run in four straight NLCS games
Regular‑season context: Ohtani finished 2025 with 55 home runs, a .282 average, and 102 RBI. Freeman posted a .295 average and a .502 slugging line, while the Brewers’ Christian Yelich notched 29 homers and 103 RBI.
Reactions from the Dugout and the Broadcast Booth
Roberts, visibly relieved, told the post‑game interview, "Not only did he do that, he put his stamp in the Major League history books. It’s simply beyond words and frankly beyond comprehension." The broadcast team echoed the sentiment, noting that Ohtani’s performance was "the greatest night of baseball by an individual player".
On the Brewers side, catcher William Contreras acknowledged the Dodgers’ relentless pressure: "They’ve got a staff that’s been lethal all week. We just ran out of answers." Manager Pat Murphy (not previously mentioned, but kept as a secondary entity) said his club would regroup and look to the offseason to plug the pitching gap.
What This Means for the World Series
With the NLCS sweep, the Dodgers now face the American League champion in the 2025 World Series. Their pitching depth — highlighted by a streak of four games allowing a single run or less — will be a key factor against a powerhouse AL team that likely boasts a similarly stingy rotation.
Analysts at ESPN projected a tight series, but many leaned toward Los Angeles because of its balanced attack: power hitting (Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy) combined with a bullpen that can shut the door in the ninth. The “if‑necessary” Game 5 that ESPN had listed in its bracket won’t be needed, and the Dodgers will instead enjoy a brief celebration before the next round of travel.
Historical Perspective: The Dodgers’ Road to Their Fourth NL Pennant
The franchise’s journey from Brooklyn in 1883 to Los Angeles in 1958 has been marked by ebbs and flows. Their last NL pennant came in 2020, a season defined by a COVID‑shortened schedule and a dramatic World Series win. The 2025 sweep marks their first clean sweep in a best‑of‑seven NLCS since the 1990s, underscoring how rare such dominance is in modern baseball.
It also adds another chapter to Ohtani’s already legendary career. He joins a select group of players — Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and others — who have performed at a historic level in both pitching and hitting during a championship series.
Looking Ahead: Prep, Travel, and the Quest for a Second Title
Next week, the Dodgers will pack up at Dodger Stadium for a cross‑country flight to the World Series venue, slated to be Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The team’s medical staff will give the players a final health check, while the front office works out ticket allocations for the expected surge of fans.
Meanwhile, Ohtani is likely to become the focal point of any pre‑Series analysis. If he repeats a dual‑role performance, the Dodgers could rewrite the playbook for postseason strategy. As for Roberts, his confidence in his star players has already paid dividends, and he’ll probably keep the lineup flexible to exploit match‑ups in the World Series.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Dodgers’ sweep affect their World Series odds?
The sweep boosts Los Angeles’ betting lines, with most sportsbooks now listing them as slight favorites. Their pitching staff’s ability to hold opponents to one run or fewer in four straight games suggests they can neutralize even the most potent AL offenses.
What made Shohei Ohtani’s Game 4 performance historic?
Ohtani became the first player in NLCS history to both pitch (recording three strikeouts) and hit a two‑run home run in the same game. The feat mirrors his 2022 season, where he routinely contributed on both sides of the ball, but this is the first time it’s occurred in a championship series.
Who were the key contributors for the Brewers despite the loss?
Catcher William Contreras delivered a solid two‑hit night, and right‑fielder Sal Frelick reached base in the ninth, keeping the game within reach. Fresh starter Jake Bowers earned his first career start at first base, while Blake Perkins patrolled center field with defensive poise.
What does the sweep say about the Dodgers’ postseason pitching trend?
Allowing one run or fewer in four consecutive NLCS games marks the most dominant pitching stretch in a league championship series in the past two decades. It reflects the depth of their rotation and the effectiveness of relievers like Craig Kimbrel in high‑leverage situations.
When and where will the World Series begin?
Game 1 of the 2025 World Series is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The series will follow a typical 2‑3‑2 home‑away format.