When Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a 5‑1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on , the city of Los Angeles erupted. The win sealed a four‑game sweep in the 2025 National League Championship SeriesDodger Stadium, sending the Dodgers back to the World Series for the fifth time in nine seasons. It mattered because the Brewers entered the postseason with MLB’s best regular‑season record (103‑59), yet couldn’t crack a single game against a pitching staff that allowed one run or fewer in four straight postseason outings.
The journey began in early October, when the Dodgers topped the Philadelphia Phillies in a three‑game Division Series. Roki Sasaki, a 24‑year‑old right‑hander from Japan, had never recorded a save in the majors before that series. By the time the NLCS rolled around, he’d already notched two saves and was suddenly the bullpen’s go‑to ‘capital A answer.’
Meanwhile, the Brewers, bolstered by a league‑leading .618 winning percentage, rode the ace arm of Corbin Burnes through the National League Division Series. Their confidence was sky‑high, but a sore foot injury to key hitter William Contreras would later prove costly.
Dodger Stadium’s lights blazed as Shohei Ohtani smashed a solo homer in the second inning, his third of the series. The Dodgers never looked back. By the fifth inning, they led 4‑0 thanks to a two‑run double from Mookie Betts and a solo shot from Freddie Freeman.
In the ninth, with two outs, Roki Sasaki faced Brewers’ rookie Caleb Durbin. He unleashed a four‑seam fastball clocked at 97.7 mph, spin rate 2,165 rpm. Durbin’s fly ball exited at 99.3 mph, launch angle 31°, and traveled 348 feet before Betts snagged it for the final out.
Earlier in the inning, Sasaki had allowed a single to William Contreras, but promptly induced an out from Andrew Vaughn. The Dodgers’ bullpen finished the night with a 5‑1 line, confirming a historic defensive stretch: one run or fewer in four straight postseason games—a feat matched only by the 1975 Reds and 1995 Braves.
Baseball historian John Thorn notes, “The 2025 Dodgers are the first club in the expansion era to sweep a best‑of‑seven series twice, once in ’63 and now again, and they did it against a team that set the modern‑era win‑total record this year.”
“We rode this wave together, from the bullpen to the leadoff hitter,” said Dave Roberts, the 52‑year‑old manager, after the final out. “Roki showed poise beyond his years. This city loves what you did tonight.”
Sasaki, typically reserved, smiled shyly while holding the game‑winning ball. “It’s a dream,” he told a post‑game reporter. “To close out a game that big for this team… I just focus on the next pitch.”
Brewers’ skipper Craig Counsell kept his composure, noting, “We gave it our all. The Dodgers executed at every level. We’ll take the lessons into the offseason.”
The Dodgers now turn their gaze to the American League champion, slated to be the New York Yankees after they clinched the AL pennant on . The World Series is set to begin on , with the venue decided by regular‑season records – a likely trip to Yankee Stadium.
Analyst Tom Verducci predicts a showdown of pitching depth versus power hitting. “Los Angeles boasts a bullpen that can lock down any late‑game scenario, but New York’s lineup still has the most home runs in the AL this season. It’ll be a classic duel of firepower and finesse.”
Fans can expect a series that could stretch to six games, given the Dodgers’ offensive balance (they rank third in MLB with a .277 team batting average) and the Yankees’ formidable rotation led by Gerrit Cole.
The sweep boosts Los Angeles’ win probability to roughly 65% according to betting markets, up from 52% after Game 2. The dominant pitching and momentum suggest they’ll start the World Series as clear favorites.
Sasaki combined velocity (97.7 mph) with an elite spin rate (2,165 rpm), allowing him to miss bats on the edges of the strike zone. His composure under pressure, especially after allowing a leadoff single, turned a potentially shaky inning into a flawless save.
Milwaukee posted a league‑best 103‑59 record and entered the NLCS as the top seed. Losing four straight games, each by one run or fewer, highlights how postseason baseball can hinge on pitching depth—something the Dodgers possessed in abundance.
The series kicks off on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The venue will be determined by the regular‑season records of the two league champions; current projections favor Yankee Stadium, given the AL champion’s superior win‑loss tally.
With five pennants in nine seasons, the 2025 Dodgers top the Wild Card era leaderboard, surpassing the Braves, Giants, and Cardinals, each with four. Their blend of power (Ohtani’s three homers in the NLCS) and bullpen mastery sets a new benchmark for modern Dodgers squads.
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