Dodgers Face Pressure in NLCS Game 2 Against Brewers

On Monday afternoon, Game 2 of the National League Championship Series was critical for the Los Angeles Dodgers. While they are often seen as a powerhouse, it was actually the Milwaukee Brewers—who had the best record in the league—who showcased exceptional performance, winning Game 1 convincingly. Although Jacob Misiorowski didn’t quite pitch at his usual elite level, the Dodgers failed to capitalize on several chances, thanks to Milwaukee’s defense stepping up when it mattered most.

In the second inning, with a run already on the board, the Dodgers loaded the bases with Kike Hernandez, a postseason ace, at the plate. The Brewers, however, executed a perfectly timed double play to end the threat. After scoring two runs against Tarik Skubal, Milwaukee’s bullpen kept the momentum going, putting in 4.2 scoreless innings to seal the victory.

There was some optimism for the Dodgers heading into Game 2, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a postseason hero from 2025, taking the mound against Logan Henderson. But despite the considerable hype surrounding LA’s pitching lineup, the Brewers kept up their momentum, ultimately taking a commanding 2-0 series lead with a 7-4 win.

The Dodgers initially struck first, capitalizing on some defensive missteps by the Brewers. Mookie Betts walked, advanced to second on Freddie Freeman’s hit, and then took third on a wild pitch. Teoscar Hernandez brought him in with a sacrifice fly, giving LA a 1-0 lead—without even registering a hit at that point. But Milwaukee quickly equalized in the bottom of the first.

In another pivotal moment, the Dodgers let a clear missed call on Brice Turang slip by, allowing him to double and later score from a bloop single by William Contreras, who made contact with a seemingly casual swing. This pattern of missed opportunities would continue.

In the third inning, the Dodgers looked to rally with consecutive singles from Tommy Edman and Betts, but a stellar catch by Sal Frelick robbed Freeman of a sure double. An error on a pickoff attempt ultimately allowed Edman to score, but just as before, LA couldn’t capitalize further, and Milwaukee responded right away with more runs.

David Hamilton added to the Brewers’ offensive contributions with a blooper single, followed by another missed strike three situation that put Turang on base again. After a tough at-bat, Jake Bauers walked, leading to a single from Christian Yelich that pushed Milwaukee ahead once more.

Yamamoto’s struggles were evident as he managed only 2.2 innings, giving up four hits and three runs in what turned out to be a challenging outing for the Dodgers. They managed to take the lead in the fifth with some more unusual plays—beginning with a double from Kyle Tucker and aided by an errant throw from Henderson. But once again, the Brewers countered, as Contreras tied the game shortly after with a big home run.

The Brewers’ bullpen showcased their dominance, going nearly 29 innings with only one run allowed, a historic feat in playoff history for consecutive innings without yielding a baserunner. Milwaukee’s relievers, including JoJo Romero, Abner Uribe, and others, made quick work of LA’s hitters.

By the eighth inning, the Brewers were still piling on, with Hamilton scoring from yet another soft hit—a single from Turang—putting them firmly ahead. The stats showed a troubling trend; Milwaukee was succeeding with soft contact, while the Dodgers struggled with the same situations.

There’s a conversation to be had about luck—sure, Milwaukee has seemed fortunate this season, but in a short playoff series, randomness can take center stage. Often, it doesn’t play out as expected, and predictions of total domination can quickly become laughable.

Interestingly, Milwaukee had more hits with runners in scoring position than the Dodgers had in the entire postseason up to that point. Returning to LA with a 2-0 series lead, the Brewers seemed poised to progress to the World Series. Baseball is unpredictable, heavily influenced by little moments, and in this series, players like Hamilton—who shouldn’t statistically be making impacts—have. Conversely, superstars can sometimes fall flat. It’s just part of the game, which is why no team can guarantee a victory.

However, will those who talk about “ruining baseball” recognize the nuances here? Probably not, as reality often has no bearing on those discussions.