LOS ANGELES – There won’t be a three-peat for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their aspirations of becoming the first team to win three consecutive World Series titles since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000 have been dashed, largely due to an anemic offense, a shaky bullpen, and an ailing Shohei Ohtani who struggled during the postseason.
Ohtani did hit a three-run homer that provided the Dodgers with a 4-0 lead in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series; however, the younger Milwaukee Brewers executed another comeback, ultimately securing a 6-4 victory to complete a four-game sweep.
“I’m not used to those consolation speeches,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated. “I personally told our guys that there’s no apologies, there’s no sorrys. We gave it everything we had, and it wasn’t good enough. That’s part of life.”
Throughout the postseason, Los Angeles struggled significantly, batting under .100 with runners in scoring position, squandering several opportunities during the final four innings of Thursday’s game. Trailing 5-4, the Dodgers found themselves with a runner on third base in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings but failed to capitalize. Max Muncy struck out to end the sixth, Mookie Betts grounded out to end the seventh, and Teoscar Hernández struck out to close the eighth, marking a frustrating decline.
The Dodgers were ultimately retired in order in the ninth, bringing their season to an abrupt close. “We got outplayed in all facets,” Roberts remarked, acknowledging the Brewers’ superior performance. “Those guys played flawless. Defensively they pitched better than we did, they hit better than we did, they slugged more than we did. You’ve got to sometimes just tip your cap.”
Los Angeles struggled against the Brewers, hitting just .185 overall and a dismal .148 with runners in scoring position (4 for 27). The Dodgers were also out-homered 7-1 in the series.
Both Ohtani and Will Smith faced significant slumps throughout the playoffs. Ohtani’s homer was his first since August 18, and he finished the postseason batting .192 (5 for 26) with 10 strikeouts, four walks, three RBIs, and three runs. Smith, the All-Star catcher, fared even worse, managing just 3 hits in 31 at-bats (.097) along with nine strikeouts, two doubles, no homers, one walk, and two RBIs.
Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers’ first baseman, reflected on the disappointing series, stating, “I know there wasn’t one pitch, one at-bat. They just outplayed us in the series, which is kind of how it goes. We had our opportunities. We didn’t get the job done.”
Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow started strong, retiring his first 10 batters and striking out six while holding a 4-0 lead. However, the Brewers responded, with Jake Bauers hitting a two-run double in the fourth and David Hamilton contributing an RBI single that chased Glasnow from the game, leaving Milwaukee trailing by just one run at 4-3.
Reliever Alex Vesia issued a bases-loaded walk to Bauers, who was named NLCS MVP, allowing the tying run to cross the plate. The Dodgers issued four walks in the fifth inning, and the Brewers efficiently stole two bases.
Tanner Scott then allowed a two-strike homer to Garrett Mitchell leading off the sixth, giving Milwaukee a 5-4 advantage. In the ninth, Edwin Díaz recorded two quick outs before Hamilton, the No. 9 hitter, homered for a 6-4 lead.
“Every facet of the game, if you kind of unpack it, we were bested,” Roberts concluded, emphasizing the need for the team to reflect and rebuild for the future.
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