Brewers Complete NLCS Sweep Over Dodgers
The Milwaukee Brewers completed a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, defeating Los Angeles 6-4 in Game 4. The victory ended the Dodgers' bid for a third straight World Series title and concluded the postseason for the two-time defending champions.
Milwaukee won 103 games during the regular season before advancing through the playoffs. In the NLCS, the Brewers out-homered Los Angeles 7-1 in the series. Yahoo Sports data indicated that the Dodgers finished the postseason 5-for-43 with runners in scoring position.
In Game 4, the Dodgers fell behind early but rallied to take a lead before Milwaukee mounted a comeback. The Brewers overcame an early four-run deficit to secure the win and the series sweep.
Ohtani’s Postperformance and Lineup Changes
Shohei Ohtani finished the postseason with a batting line of 5-for-26. He entered the NLCS dealing with ailments in his left knee and right biceps. During the series, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Ohtani around the batting order.
For Game 3, Roberts dropped Ohtani to sixth in the lineup, marking the lowest spot of his career. For Game 4, he moved Ohtani back to leadoff. In that game, Ohtani hit a three-run home run in the second inning. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that the late home run "gave us a big lift." However, Ohtani struck out in a key spot in the seventh inning of Game 4.
Ohtani credited the Brewers for exposing parts of his game, speaking through interpreter Will Ireton after the series concluded.
Historical Context and Career Standing
The Dodgers' exit marks a sharp contrast to their performance in the previous year's playoffs. Brewers manager Pat Murphy previously called Ohtani's performance in last year's NLCS "maybe the best individual performance ever in a postseason game." That series occurred one year prior to the current sweep.
Ohtani has won four Most Valuable Player awards, including three unanimous selections. He was the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, achieving that milestone in 2024.
Supporters of Ohtani argue that his unprecedented two-way career continues to place him among baseball's greatest players, despite the recent postseason struggles. The sweep has reignited debate over his all-time standing in the sport.