I would love to be able to give you some positivity in this recap and tell you that the Dodgers are going to become just the second team in MLB history to overcome a 0-3 deficit in a seven game playoff series. I wish I could tell you that the Dodgers are going to come back and win four games in a row en route to their third consecutive National League pennant. Here’s the thing, I am not stupid and this series is over. The Brewers beat the Dodgers 6-2 on Wednesday evening in game 3 of the NLCS at Dodgers Stadium to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. They are now just one win away from winning their first pennant since 1982.
Blake Snell pitched a strong game but Milwaukee slugged three home runs off of him, the third shot knocking him out of the game in the top of the seventh inning. I can tell the way these games go by whether the Dodgers give up runs in the first inning, and Jackson Chourio hit a home run on the very first pitch of the game. Still Snell redeemed himself by not allowing the Brewers anything else until that fateful seventh inning. Meanwhile the Dodger bats did next to nothing the entire game against opposing starter Robert Gasser. The left hander tossed five shutout innings against the Dodgers before turning the game over to Milwaukee’s lockdown bullpen.
The hype before the game involved the Dodgers considering benching the slumping Shohei Ohtani. They decided against that, penciling him into his DH spot, but as the sixth hitter. Ohtani once again did nothing much, going 1 for 2 with a single in the eighth and a walk. The Dodgers had one exciting moment in the bottom of the sixth when they took the lead.
In the sixth with reliever Abner Uribe on the mound, Teoscar Hernandez walked and Kyle tucker also followed with a walk as well. After Max Muncy struck out, Ohtani drew a free pass to load the bases. Will Smith doubled to score two, bringing the crowd to life and giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. But the Dodgers couldn’t do anything more with that rally. DL Hall came in and struck out Enrique Hernandez and Tommy Edman to get out of the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Andrew Vaughn walked and pesky Jake Bauers who had a 12-pitch at-bat against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in game 2, had an 11-pitch at-bat against Snell before homering into the right field pavilions to put the Brewers ahead 3-2. Snell should have been hooked immediately after that home run, but was left in giving up another home run to Garrett Mitchell. That made the score 4-2. Evan Phillips got the Dodgers out of the frame with a double play, but it was obvious the Dodgers were done.
Done they were. The Dodgers only managed one baserunner the rest of the game (Ohtani single in the eighth), and the Brewers added two more runs against Roki Sasaki and Justin Wrobleski, who both had no business being in this game, let alone on the postseason roster. The Dodgers had just five hits and four walks and just one extra-base hit.
I knew the Dodgers would lose after game 2, so it was not much of a surprise to me. We’re seeing a tired and defeated team. There is no reason for anyone to be ashamed. The Brewers are a very good club, and the Dodgers have won three championships, including back-back. Three-peats are extremely difficult. The good news is that Dodger fans everywhere are now free. We are free to go see a movie, go out with friends, catch up on those house of dragon re-runs or just make those Halloween plans early. Here’s hoping they don’t drag this out any longer and make us suffer any further.
The series continues Thursday evening with game 4 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are sending Tyler Glasnow to the mound hoping to force a game 5, and avoid being swept. Milwaukee has not announced a starting pitcher yet, and could go with a bullpen game. The Dodgers can’t win the World Series every year guys, no matter how much I expect them too.
unfortunately you could see this coming by the way the team played in August and September. They limped home only beating sub .500 teams. They are getting old and their stars are not shining anymore. Time for some major changes in 2027.