Blake Snell Dominates as Dodgers Edge Brewers 2–1 in NLCS Opener

Published: October 14, 2025, 22:10 EDT

MILWAUKEE — Blake Snell delivered one of the most commanding postseason performances in recent memory, pitching eight shutout innings to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2–1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Monday’s National League Championship Series opener.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed just one hit and struck out 10 batters, leaving little doubt about his value in his first postseason run with Los Angeles after signing a five-year, $182 million contract.

“He was a masterpiece tonight,” said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, whose sixth-inning solo homer broke a scoreless tie. “That’s the kind of performance that sets the tone for the whole series.”

A Dominant Night for the Dodgers’ Ace

Snell, 32, faced the Brewers for the first time this year after missing the regular-season meetings due to injury. On Monday, he showed precisely what Milwaukee had avoided.

He allowed only one baserunner through eight innings — a third-inning single by Caleb Durbin, who was promptly picked off — and retired his final 17 hitters in order.

According to MLB records, Snell became the first pitcher to face the minimum 24 batters through eight innings in a postseason game since Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. He also made history as the only starter ever to throw eight innings with at least 10 strikeouts, zero walks, and no more than one hit allowed in playoff history.

“Even when I played against them, I always thought I wanted to be a Dodger,” Snell said after the game. “To be here now, it’s a dream come true. I just want to help us win a World Series.”

Late-Inning Drama Nearly Derails Dodgers’ Win

Despite Snell’s brilliance, the Dodgers’ bullpen nearly unraveled in the ninth. Rookie reliever Roki Sasaki struggled, giving up a run and loading the bases before veteran Blake Treinen struck out Brice Turang to seal the narrow win.

“That’s playoff baseball — you’re on the edge of your seat all nine innings,” Freeman said. “That was a massive first win on the road for us.”

Sasaki had been solid in previous outings, but Milwaukee capitalized on his command issues. After Isaac Collins walked, pinch-hitter Jake Bauers hit a ground-rule double. Jackson Chourio’s sacrifice fly brought in a run before Christian Yelich and William Contreras drew consecutive walks to load the bases.

Treinen, who had struggled late in the regular season with a 9.64 ERA in September, regained his rhythm at the right time. “Today was fun,” he said. “I executed almost every pitch. We’ve been working to get things back on track, and this was a step forward.”

Freeman and Betts Provide the Offense

Freddie Freeman put Los Angeles on the board in the sixth with a towering solo home run off Brewers starter Chad Patrick. The shot just cleared the right-field wall, nearly grazing the roof of American Family Field.

The Dodgers added an insurance run in the ninth when Mookie Betts drew a bases-loaded walk from Abner Uribe on a full count, which proved crucial once the Brewers mounted their rally.

Los Angeles, however, missed several opportunities to widen the gap earlier in the game. The most notable came on a bizarre defensive sequence that turned a near-grand-slam by Max Muncy into an 8–6–2 double play.

A Play That Defied Belief

With the bases loaded, Muncy launched a deep drive to center field that Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick appeared to rob at the wall. The ball popped out of Frelick’s glove, hit the top of the fence, and bounced back into his hand for a second catch.

The Dodgers’ runners, believing it was a clean catch, retreated. Frelick threw to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who relayed to catcher William Contreras for two quick outs at home and third.

“It happened so fast,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Honestly, I didn’t even know he didn’t catch it cleanly.”

A Study in Contrasts: Big Market vs. Small Market

This NLCS features two clubs on opposite ends of baseball’s financial spectrum — the defending champion Dodgers, MLB’s highest-spending team, and the Brewers, representing its smallest market.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy acknowledged the mismatch, joking before the game that “most Dodger players probably can’t name eight guys on our roster.”

Still, Murphy praised Snell’s outing afterward. “That was as dominant a performance as I’ve seen in my ten years here,” he said.

Looking Ahead: Yamamoto vs. Peralta in Game 2

The Dodgers lead the best-of-seven series 1–0, with Game 2 scheduled for Tuesday night. Los Angeles will send All-Star Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound against Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta in another marquee pitching matchup.

For Los Angeles, the challenge will be maintaining momentum while addressing late-inning bullpen concerns. For Milwaukee, the goal is simple — solve the Dodgers’ dominant rotation and regain control before the series shifts to Los Angeles.

As Freeman summed up, “You can’t take your foot off the gas in the postseason. This is just the start.”