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2025 National League Championship Series

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2025 National League Championship Series
Team (Wins) Managers Season
Los Angeles Dodgers (4) Dave Roberts 93–69 (.574), GA: 3
Milwaukee Brewers (0) Pat Murphy 97–65 (.599), GA: 5
DatesOctober 13–17
MVPShohei Ohtani (Los Angeles)
UmpiresAdam Beck, Vic Carapazza, Chad Fairchild, James Hoye (crew chief), John Libka, Gabe Morales, Mark Ripperger
Broadcast
TelevisionTBS
TruTV
HBO Max (streaming)
UniMás (Spanish)
Vix (Spanish – streaming)
TV announcersBrian Anderson, Ron Darling, Jeff Francoeur, and Lauren Shehadi
RadioESPN
Radio announcersJon Sciambi and Doug Glanville
NLDS
← 2024 NLCS

The 2025 National League Championship Series was the best-of-seven playoff in Major League Baseball's 2025 postseason between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League (NL) pennant and the right to play in the 2025 World Series. The series began on October 13 and ended on October 17. The Dodgers won the series in a four-game sweep to become National League (NL) champions and advance to the World Series for the second consecutive year. Two-way player Shohei Ohtani won the NLCS MVP for his three home runs, six innings pitched, no runs allowed, ten strikeout performance in Game 4 to secure the sweep. This was the first sweep in an NLCS since 2019.

The Dodgers gave up just four runs in the series (one run each game), and the Brewers hit .118, which was the lowest ever batting average of any team in the postseason in a series of at least three games.[1]

The games were televised on TBS and TruTV, and streamed on HBO Max in the United States.[2][3] UniMás broadcast the series in Spanish.[4]

Background

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Further information: 2025 Major League Baseball postseason

This was the first National League Championship Series (NLCS) to not feature a National League East team since 2018; it was the National League Central's first NLCS since 2019.

The Milwaukee Brewers qualified for their seventh postseason in the last eight seasons (third consecutive) on September 13,[5] won the National League Central and earned a first-round bye on September 21,[6] and earned home-field advantage throughout the MLB postseason after the Philadelphia Phillies were defeated by the Minnesota Twins on September 27.[7] The Brewers won their first postseason series since the 2018 National League Division Series when they defeated their rival Chicago Cubs in five games in the Division Series.[8] This was Milwaukee's fourth overall League Championship Series appearance. The Brewers, who moved to the National League in 1998, were looking to win a National League pennant for the first time.[A][B]

The Los Angeles Dodgers qualified for their league-leading thirteenth consecutive postseason appearance on September 19 and won the National League West on September 25 via a road victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[9] As the third-best division winner by record, they played and swept the sixth-seeded Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Series in two games.[10] The Dodgers then defeated the National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the National League Division Series, highlighted by an errant throw by Orion Kerkering that gave the Dodgers the series walk-off win.[11] This was the Dodgers' second consecutive NLCS appearance and the eighth in the last 13 years (2013, 2016–2018, 2020–2021, 2024–2025), as well as their league-leading 17th overall appearance in the round. The Dodgers were looking to become the first back-to-back National League champions since they had done it in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, as well as the first back-to-back World Series champions since the 1999–2000 Yankees.

The Brewers swept the regular season series against the Dodgers, 6–0. It was the first time a National League team swept the Dodgers in a regular season series since the 2006 Cardinals.[12] This series marked the third postseason meeting between the Brewers and the Dodgers, and a rematch of the 2018 NLCS, which the Dodgers won in seven games. Their previous postseason meeting was also in the 2020 NL Wild Card Series, which the Dodgers won in a two-game sweep. Managers Pat Murphy and Dave Roberts were on the same coaching staff, the 2015 San Diego Padres, during the rookie season of their MLB coaching careers.[13]

Summary

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Los Angeles won the series, 4–0.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 13 Los Angeles Dodgers – 2, Milwaukee Brewers – 1 American Family Field 2:53 41,737[14] 
2 October 14 Los Angeles Dodgers – 5, Milwaukee Brewers – 1 American Family Field 2:51 41,427[15] 
3 October 16 Milwaukee Brewers – 1, Los Angeles Dodgers – 3 Dodger Stadium 2:48 51,251[16] 
4 October 17 Milwaukee Brewers – 1, Los Angeles Dodgers – 5 Dodger Stadium 2:41 52,883[17]

Game summaries

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Game 1

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Blake Snell (pictured with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018) pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out ten batters for Los Angeles in Game 1.
October 13, 2025 7:08 pm (CDT) at American Family Field at Milwaukee, Wisconsin 68 °F (20 °C), Roof Closed
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 7 0
Milwaukee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0
WP: Blake Snell (1–0)   LP: Chad Patrick (0–1)   Sv: Blake Treinen (1)
Home runs:
LAD: Freddie Freeman (1)
MIL: None
Attendance: 41,737
Boxscore

With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the fourth inning and the game scoreless, the Brewers pulled off the first-ever postseason 8-6-2 double play. On the play, Max Muncy hit a deep fly ball to center field. Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick leaped to catch it, but the ball bounced off his glove, then hit the wall and went back into his glove. Teoscar Hernandez, not knowing the ball went off the wall went back to tag up, something he didn't need to do because according to rule 8.2.4: "If a fair or foul batted ball is caught, other than a foul tip, each base runner shall touch his base after the batted ball has touched a fielder" (note that the ball doesn't necessarily need to be secured by the fielder).[18] This means that Hernandez leaving third base after the ball went off of Frelick's glove would've been a legal tag-up had it been ruled a catch. However, because it went off the wall, it wasn't a catch, and as a result, there was a force at every base. Hernandez's errant second tag-up gave the Brewers enough time to relay and force him out at home. After getting the out at home, Brewers' catcher William Contreras ran down and touched third base, getting the force out on Will Smith, who had returned to second when he thought Frelick made a clean catch.[19]

The game was still scoreless through five complete innings until the top of the sixth inning when Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run off Chad Patrick to give the Dodgers a 1–0 lead. Dodgers starter Blake Snell recorded ten strikeouts, allowed only one hit, and forced the Brewers to go scoreless through eight innings. With the bases loaded at the top of the ninth inning, Abner Uribe issued a walk to Mookie Betts, allowing the Dodgers to take a 2–0 lead. However, in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Brewers were able to get to Dodgers closer Roki Sasaki. An Isaac Collins walk followed by a Jake Bauers double put the tying runs in scoring position with one out. Jackson Chourio hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Collins and cutting the Dodgers' lead to 2–1. However, Blake Treinen struck out Brice Turang to escape a bases-loaded jam for the final out of the game to get the save as the Dodgers took Game 1 of the NLCS.[20]

Game 2

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a complete game and struck out seven batters for Los Angeles in Game 2.
October 14, 2025 7:08 pm (CDT) at American Family Field at Milwaukee, Wisconsin 68 °F (20 °C), Roof Closed
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 5 11 1
Milwaukee 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1
WP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1–0)   LP: Freddy Peralta (0–1)
Home runs:
LAD: Teoscar Hernández (1), Max Muncy (1)
MIL: Jackson Chourio (1)
Attendance: 41,427
Boxscore

In the bottom of the first inning, Jackson Chourio hit a solo leadoff home run off Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the first pitch to take a 1–0 lead for the Brewers; however, that was all the Brewers would get. In the top of the second inning, Teoscar Hernández homered off Freddy Peralta to tie the game, followed by an Andy Pages RBI double, scoring Enrique Hernández, putting the Dodgers up 2-1 and giving Yamamoto all the run support he'd end up needing. In the top of the sixth inning, Max Muncy hit a solo home run to extend the Dodgers' lead to 3–1, it was his 14th career postseason home run, a new Dodger franchise record.[21] Peralta pitched 5+2⁄3 innings, allowed five hits, three runs, and walked one batter while striking out four batters. In the top of the seventh inning, Shohei Ohtani scored Enrique Hernández on an RBI single, further extending the lead to 4–1. In the top of the eighth inning, Tommy Edman hit a RBI single, allowing Will Smith to score and extend the lead to 5–1. Yamamoto struck out seven batters, surrendering only three hits and one run in his complete game victory, as the Dodgers took a 2–0 series lead. Yamamoto threw the first complete game in the postseason for the Dodgers since José Lima did it in the third game of the 2004 NLDS and the first for any MLB pitcher since Justin Verlander in Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS. He was also the first Japanese pitcher to throw a complete game in the postseason.[22][23] Chourio’s first inning home run would be the only lead Milwaukee had for the series.

Game 3

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Tyler Glasnow (pictured with the Altoona Curve) pitched 5+2⁄3 innings and struck out eight batters for Los Angeles in Game 3.
October 16, 2025 3:08 pm (PDT) at Dodger Stadium at Los Angeles, California 77 °F (25 °C), Sunny
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Milwaukee 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1
Los Angeles 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 X 3 5 1
WP: Alex Vesia (1–0)   LP: Jacob Misiorowski (0–1)   Sv: Roki Sasaki (1)
Attendance: 51,251
Boxscore

In the bottom of the first inning, the Dodgers quickly took a 1–0 lead with a Shohei Ohtani triple followed by a Mookie Betts RBI double. Brewers opener Aaron Ashby pitched a 1⁄3 of an inning, allowed two hits, one run, and walked one batter while striking out one. In the top of the second inning, Caleb Durbin scored on an RBI single by Jake Bauers, tying the game at 1−1. Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow pitched 5+2⁄3 innings, allowing three hits, one run, and walking three batters while striking out eight. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Will Smith scored on an RBI single from Tommy Edman, putting the Dodgers ahead at 2–1. Freddie Freeman then scored on a throwing error from Brewers reliever Abner Uribe, extending the Dodgers' lead to 3–1. Roki Sasaki struck out Durbin for the final out of the game for the save as the Dodgers took a 3–0 series lead.[24]

Game 4

[edit]
2025 NLCS MVP Shohei Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings, struck out ten batters, and hit three home runs in Game 4.
October 17, 2025 5:38 pm (PDT) at Dodger Stadium at Los Angeles, California 75 °F (24 °C), Clear
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Milwaukee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 0
Los Angeles 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 X 5 9 0
WP: Shohei Ohtani (1–0)   LP: José Quintana (0–1)
Home runs:
MIL: None
LAD: Shohei Ohtani 3 (3)
Attendance: 52,883
Boxscore

In the bottom of the first inning, Shohei Ohtani hit a solo leadoff home run off of José Quintana to take a 1–0 lead for the Dodgers. Tommy Edman then scored Mookie Betts on a RBI single to extend the lead to 2–0 and gave Ohtani all the runs he needed. Edman scored when Teoscar Hernández ground out to first base to extend the lead to 3–0. Quintana pitched two innings, allowing six hits, three runs, and walking one batter while striking out one. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ohtani hit his second home run of the game, extending the lead to 4–0. The 469-foot solo home run was hit out of Dodger Stadium,[25] which was the second home run that was hit out of Dodger Stadium in as many weeks, following Kyle Schwarber's home run in Game 3 of the NLDS. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits, zero runs, and walking three batters while striking out 10. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Ohtani hit his third home run of the game off Brewers reliever Trevor Megill, further extending the lead to 5–0. With the leadoff hitter’s third home run of the game, Ohtani was the second player in MLB postseason history to hit three home runs from the leadoff spot, joining George Brett, who did so at the Yankees in Game 3 of the 1978 ALCS.[26] In the top of the eighth inning, Brice Turang grounded into a force out to score Caleb Durbin and get the Brewers on the board, cutting the Dodgers' lead to 5–1. Dodgers closer Roki Sasaki got the final out to complete the sweep and seal the series, thus sending the Dodgers to the World Series for the second consecutive season.[27]

This was the Brewers' eleventh straight road postseason loss. As a team, the Brewers hit .118 in the NLCS, which was the worst batting average by any team in any postseason series of at least three games in MLB history.[28] This was the Dodgers' first sweep in a seven-game series since the 1963 World Series; in that series against the Yankees, they also allowed just four runs combined, just like this series. With the series win, the Dodgers are the first MLB team to play in back-to-back World Series since the Houston Astros did in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, they will be the first team to play in the World Series as the defending champion for the first time since the Philadelphia Phillies did so in 2009.

The Dodgers receive the NL Championship trophy on the field at Dodger Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani won the NLCS MVP, the first postseason award of his career.[29] His Game 4 performance was considered one of the best ever in MLB postseason history.[30][31][32][33]

Composite line score

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2025 NLCS (4–0): Los Angeles Dodgers beat Milwaukee Brewers

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles Dodgers 4 2 0 1 0 4 2 1 1 15 32 2
Milwaukee Brewers 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 14 2
Total attendance: 187,298   Average attendance: 46,824

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Brewers won their only pennant during their time in the American League in 1982.
  2. ^ The city of Milwaukee won National League pennants in 1957 and 1958 before the Braves relocated to Atlanta in 1966.

References

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  1. ^ "4 Takeaways From Dodgers' NLCS Game 4 Win Over Brewers: The Shohei Ohtani Game | Fox Sports". amp.foxsports.com. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "2025 Postseason schedule announced". MLB.com. August 12, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  3. ^ Anderson, R.J. (August 12, 2025). "2025 MLB playoff schedule: Dates set for full postseason, including World Series start". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  4. ^ "TelevisaUnivision Announces the 2025 Major League Baseball Spanish-Language Special Programming Schedule". TelevisaUnivision. March 20, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  5. ^ McCalvy, Adam (September 13, 2025). "MLB-best Crew first to punch ticket to postseason". MLB.com. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  6. ^ McCalvy, Adam (September 21, 2025). "Brew up a clinch! Crew wins 3rd straight NL Central title". MLB.com. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  7. ^ McCalvy, Adam. "Brewers clinch No. 1 seed, home-field advantage through World Series". MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  8. ^ McCalvy, Adam. "Trio of 2-out solo homers enough to carry Brewers to NLCS". MLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  9. ^ Chen, Sonja (September 19, 2025). "They're back! Dodgers headed to 13th straight postseason". MLB.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  10. ^ Chen, Sonja. "Dodgers ride Yamamoto's superb start to spot in NLDS". MLB.com. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  11. ^ "LA Dodgers move on in MLB postseason after beating Phillies in NLDS matchup - CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  12. ^ Soto, Andrés. "Crew of 'average Joes' sweeps LA for 10th straight win, ties Cubs atop NL Central". MLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  13. ^ Webb, Steve (October 12, 2025). "Dodgers Interview: Roberts and Dodgers Weigh NLCS Options". DodgersBeat. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  14. ^ "Dodgers 2, Brewers 1 Final Score". MLB.com. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Dodgers at Brewers Live". MLB.com. October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  16. ^ "Dodgers 3, Brewers 1 Final Score". MLB.com. October 16, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  17. ^ "Dodgers 5, Brewers 1 Final Score". MLB.com. October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  18. ^ "Rule 8 - Section 2 - TOUCHING, OCCUPYING AND RETURNING TO A BASE". Baseball Rules Academy. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  19. ^ Rogers, Jesse (October 14, 2025). "Brewers turn MLB's 1st playoff 8-6-2 double play". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  20. ^ DiComo, Anthony (October 13, 2025). "Fueled by Snell's 1-hit start, Dodgers take NLCS opener". MLB.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  21. ^ "Dodgers' Max Muncy is the greatest playoff home run hitter in franchise history, breaking a 3-way tie". Yahoo! Sports. October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  22. ^ "Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches Dodgers to 2-0 NLCS lead vs. Brewers". ESPN.com. October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  23. ^ Stephen, Eric (October 15, 2025). "Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws first MLB postseason complete game by Japanese pitcher". True Blue LA. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  24. ^ DiComo, Anthony (October 16, 2025). "Relentless moxie has Dodgers 1 win from return to World Series". MLB.com. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  25. ^ "Shohei Ohtani's 469-foot solo home run | 10/17/2025". MLB.com. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  26. ^ "Dodgers NLCS MVP Shohei Ohtani joins Hall of Famer George Brett in exclusive postseason club | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  27. ^ DiComo, Anthony (October 17, 2025). "In two-way Sho for the ages, Ohtani powers LA back to World Series". MLB.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  28. ^ https://x.com/jayhaykid/status/1979387985536663560
  29. ^ Stephen, Eric (October 18, 2025). "Shohei Ohtani masterpiece finishes Dodgers NLCS sweep". True Blue LA. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  30. ^ https://x.com/MLB/status/1979389688919052505?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
  31. ^ https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1979401397356630495?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
  32. ^ "Yes, Shohei Ohtani just delivered the best playoff performance in MLB history". CBS Sports. October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  33. ^ Hadley, Taylyn (October 18, 2025). "MLB Fans Hype Shohei Ohtani for Best Playoff Performance Ever as Dodgers Sweep Brewers". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
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