Dodgers Take 3-0 Lead Over Brewers in NLCS

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

October 16, 2025

Dodgers 3, Brewers 1

The Los Angeles Dodgers are near a sweep and now one win from advancing to their second straight World Series appearance. With a 3–1 win over the Brewers Thursday, they take a commanding 3–0 lead in the NLCS. The pitching staff was able to keep the Milwaukee Brewers‘ lineup silent again, holding them to one run for the third consecutive game. The bullpen pulled through after Tyler Glasnow exited with 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K. The Dodgers have continued their postseason dominance, outscoring the Brewers 10–3 this series.

Dodgers-Brewers Game Summary

The Dodgers attacked early, with Shohei Ohtani hitting a triple to right field in the first inning. Mookie Betts followed him up with an RBI double to put the Dodgers on the board first. The Brewers answered back in the next inning, tying the game.

Caleb Durbin matched Ohtani with a triple of his own, and Jake Bauers hit a single to drive him in. Afterwards, both Glasnow and Jacob Misiorowski kept the opposing lineup scoreless until the Dodgers broke the tie in the sixth.

A Will Smith single put the leading run on first, and after Freddie Freeman drew a walk, it was now in scoring position. Next, Tommy Edman put the Dodgers back in front with a single that scored Smith. Then Abner Uribe tried to pick off Edman at first and threw the ball away, allowing Freeman to score and put the Dodgers up 3–1.

The Brewers threatened in the seventh; however, they left a man stranded in scoring position, and the Dodger bullpen kept the game quiet after that, with Roki Sasaki shutting the door.

What Went Wrong For the Brewers

Unable to Generate Runs

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Thus far in the series, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has stifled the Brewers’ lineup, holding them from stringing together any offense. In this series, they are 9-for-89 at the plate with 30 strikeouts, and a .101 team batting average. In the first two games, they were unable to take the Dodgers’ starting pitchers out of the game.

At the plate, they were unable to disrupt the rhythm of the pitchers, allowing them to go deep. This has left them with no chance to build momentum.

“…We haven’t got the clutch hit. We’ve been a little bit foreign to how we’ve played in terms of contact,” said Brewer’s manager Pat Murphy in his post-game press conference.”We haven’t shown our best foot… If you would have told me the Dodgers would score 10 runs in three games, what would be the score? If you said 2–1 us, or 1–2 them, you wouldn’t say 0–3.”

What Went Right For the Dodgers

Dominant Pitching

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The pitching staff is largely responsible for the Dodgers’ being near the sweep. They have kept the Brewers’ lineup off balance all series, allowing only three runs across three games. After Glasnow exited the game, the bullpen was able to take over and close the game out.

They allowed a single hit and issued no walks, giving the Dodgers confidence in a bullpen that has struggled all year.

Dave Roberts praised the bullpen’s resilience in his postgame interview, stating, “I think the thing about our guys is they’re battle-tested, and they know that I’ve never lost faith in them. They’ve never lost confidence in each other. So to see what they’re doing right now, I’m not surprised. We knew all along we were going to need these guys. And these guys are delivering, which is huge.”

Clutch Hitting

The Dodgers’ timely hitting and providing the pitching staff with run insurance have been key. The team has been able to turn scoring opportunities into decisive runs, easing pressure on the pitchers. Their ability to capitalize in these moments has kept the pressure on the Brewers.

What Went Wrong For the Dodgers

Leaving Runners Stranded

The Dodgers’ pitching has been the story for much of this series, but even with a 3–0 lead, the Dodgers are leaving runs on the table. They have still struggled to advance runners in scoring position. Bad baserunning and missed opportunities at the plate have prevented them from securing bigger leads.

Roberts addressed the concerns postgame, insisting, ” I wouldn’t say [it’s a] concern. But we’ve got to be better. I think you’re always trying to figure out how you can improve as a ballclub…the situational, we can be better at that for sure. We’ve got to be better.”

Looking Ahead

Win: Alex Vesia Loss: Jacob Misiorowski

The Dodgers now have a 3-0 lead in the NLCS, looking to secure the sweep in Game Four on Friday. Shohei Ohtani will take the bump in the decisive game against a yet-to-be-named starter for the Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 5:38 pm PDT.