The Los Angeles Dodgers return to Chavez Ravine trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 0–2 in the National League Championship Series, an unfamiliar and dangerous position for a franchise chasing a third consecutive World Series title. Milwaukee took Game 1, 2–1, then rallied past Los Angeles 7–4 in Game 2 on Monday night at American Family Field.
The Dodgers have now lost consecutive starts from Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two of the sport’s premier pitchers, and have nothing to show for it. Milwaukee overturned three separate deficits in Game 2, with William Contreras hitting a tying homer in the fifth and delivering the go-ahead single in the sixth.
Game 3 Is the Pivot Point
Game 3 is Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One. A Dodgers win resets the series; a loss would put Milwaukee one game from the World Series.sports.
Blake Snell is expected to start for Los Angeles against Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser. Snell enters at 4–1 with a 1.90 ERA, but his previous postseason start against Atlanta lasted only 3 2/3 innings with five walks, making his command the central question for Los Angeles.
What Went Wrong in Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s Game 1 win was built on Brice Turang’s homer off Skubal and a bullpen that shut down the Dodgers after Jacob Misiorowski’s demanding start. The Brewers won 2–1 despite the Dodgers sending Skubal to the mound.
In Game 2, Contreras provided the decisive offense, while Dustin May, JoJo Romero, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined to retire the final 15 Dodgers batters in order. Milwaukee’s relief corps turned a one-run game into a 7–4 victory and left Los Angeles searching for answers.
Los Angeles Must Respond
The Dodgers need more from the top of their lineup and a cleaner start from Snell. They must score early, avoid another late-inning shutdown, and force Milwaukee’s bullpen into extended work rather than allowing the Brewers to protect leads with their strongest relievers.
The formula is straightforward: Snell must give Los Angeles length, the offense must capitalize before Milwaukee’s bullpen enters the game, and Dodger Stadium must become the momentum-changer it has often been in October. Otherwise, the Brewers will return home with a chance to close out the series and end the Dodgers’ three-peat bid
