The Milwaukee Brewers clinched their first trip to the World Series since 1982, finishing off a four-game sweep of the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Avenging last year’s sweep, the Brewers overcame a 4-0 deficit in Game 4 to rally back for a 6-4 win to finish the best-of-seven series. Shohei Ohtani crushed a three-run homer in the second inning – the MVP’s first home run in almost two months – and it looked like the night could be all Dodgers. But Milwaukee chipped away at the lead, getting a two-run single from Jake Bauers in the fourth and then an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk to tie it up in the fifth.
Garrett Mitchell’s solo home run in the top of the sixth gave
Milwaukee the lead for good, as the Dodgers would go on to strand runners in scoring position three innings in a row.
With the best regular-season record in baseball, the Brewers will have home-field advantage for the 2026 World Series, which begins on Friday, Oct. 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays or Cleveland Guardians.
Dodgers vs Brewers NLCS takeaways
It looked like the Dodgers had finally put it all together. A stellar outing from Tyler Glasnow through the first four innings. Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández created traffic in the second and Andy Pages capitalized with an RBI single, before Shohei Ohtani broke through for a monster 428-foot three-run home run to put the Dodgers up 4-0.
But the Brewers refused to go away. They put up five runs between the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, with Garrett Mitchell slugging the go-ahead homer.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, had the tying run on third with one out in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth. That run never scored, and David Hamilton dotted the exclamation point with a solo home run off Edwin Díaz in the top of the ninth to all but clinch the pennant for Milwaukee.
Here are the main takeaways from the sweep:
- The Dodgers just couldn’t produce late once again. They had their opportunities even after Mitchell’s go-ahead homer, but the bats were quieted by the Brewers’ bullpen once again as they finished the series 4-for-27 with runners in scoring position.
- For all the struggles at the plate, the Dodgers’ vaunted rotation was supposed to be good enough to minimize the offensive effort needed. That didn’t happen. In 18 innings pitched between Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Glasnow, they gave up a combined 13 runs, 16 hits and eight walks for a 6.50 ERA.
- In years past, Andrew Friedman would use the term “organizational failure” when it came to the Dodgers’ shortcomings in October. This felt like that all over again. From the lineup, to the defense, to the pitching, to Roberts’ decisions, the Dodgers were thoroughly outplayed and outmanaged for all four games.
– Andres Soto
Dodgers vs. Brewers box score
Brewers reach World Series for first time since 1982
11:22 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovTIME TO CELEBRATE, MILWAUKEE! pic.twitter.com/0adz7yNiw5
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2026
Aaron Ashby finishes off Dodgers
11:16 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovTHE @BREWERS ARE NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPS! #CLINCHED
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2026
(MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/K3rE3n3E4J
David Hamilton HR adds insurance
11:00 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovEdwin Diaz came out to pitch a second inning and David Hamilton hit a solo home run for the Brewers to make it 6-4.
To the ninth: Brewers 5, Dodgers 4
10:52 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovFor the third consecutive inning the Dodgers had a runner in scoring position with less than two outs and failed to score. Will Smith doubled with one out against Aaron Ashby, but the left-hander got Kyle Tucker to fly out to shallow center before striking out Teoscar Hernandez for the third out.
Dodgers waste another RISP
10:38 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovTrailing by one run, Andy Pages led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. But then Enrique Hernandez dropped down a sacrifice bunt that got the runner to third with one out. Shohei Ohtani struck out on three pitches. Then Mookie Betts grounded out to end the inning. Stunning turn of events with Ashby on the mound for Milwaukee.
Dodgers strand another runner
10:22 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovKyle Tucker's one-out double put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of sixth for the Dodgers, but JoJo Romero got Teoscar Hernandez to ground out and then whiffed Max Muncy to end the inning and strand Tucker on third base.
Garrett Mitchell HR puts Dodgers ahead
10:07 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovLeading off the top of the sixth against Tanner Scott, Garrett Mitchell homered for the second consecutive night, a solo shot that gave the Brewers their first lead of the night at 5-4.
Brewers tie it up
09:54 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovAlex Vesia walked Jake Bauers with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth to the game 4-4. It was the Dodgers' fourth walk off the inning and things are all tied up after Los Angeles stormed out to a 4-0 lead.
Jake Bauers draws a bases-loaded walk!
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2026
TIE GAME! pic.twitter.com/zeZgMPkMVG
Brewers get another run back
09:40 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovSal Frelick walked then stole second against Tyler Glasnow in the top of the fifth, and David Hamilton smacked an RBI single to bring home a run and cut the Dodgers' lead to 4-3. Glasnow's night is done after 4.1 innings, being replaced by Evan Phillips.
David Hamilton brings the Brewers even closer! pic.twitter.com/arxwn4VLMo
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2026
Jake Bauers cuts Dodgers lead in half
09:16 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovTyler Glasnow retired the first 10 Brewers he faced in Game 4, but walked Brice Turang and then gave up back-to-back ground-rule doubles to William Contreras and Jake Bauers, the latter scoring two runs to make it 4-2. Glasnow bounced back to get the final two outs and strand a runner in scoring position.
Jake Bauers cannot be stopped!
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2026
He cuts the Brewers deficit in half 💪 pic.twitter.com/AklAZgtDqV
Tyler Glasnow perfect through 3
09:02 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovDodgers starter Tyler Glasnow has retired nine consecutive Brewers to start this game as Los Angeles takes a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third.
Shohei Ohtani explodes after HR
09:00 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovTHE EMOTION FROM SHOHEI 🗣️ https://t.co/8mKF35KfqQ pic.twitter.com/bqXJUBUm7c
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2026
Ohtani home run shakes Dodger Stadium
08:49 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovAfter the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead ion the bottom of the second on Andy Pages' RBI single, Shohei Ohtani obliterated a pitch from Dustin May for a three-run homer, staking Los Angeles to a 4-0 lead.
It's Ohtani's first home run of the postseason and a huge weight off the shoulders of the four-time MVP who has been struggling as he's dealt with injuries in the second half of the season
SHOHEI OHTANI
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2026
HOME RUN pic.twitter.com/HSlZDqSDNj
Dodgers fumble first inning
08:28 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovAfter striking out Shohei Ohtani to lead off the bottom of the first, Brewers starter Shane Drohan walked Mookie Betts and Will Smith, very obviously struggling with command. The lefty fell behind 3-1 on cleanup hitter Will Smith, who then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and let the Brewers off the hook.
Needed it, got it pic.twitter.com/WCve1b50Xg
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 16, 2026
Tyler Glasnow cruises through first
08:17 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovDodgers starter Tyler Glasnow retired the Brewers in order to open Game 4, getting a Jackson Chourio ground out – on a crazy deflection – to lead off before striking out Brice Turang and William Contreras.
Game 4 is off to a wild start!
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2026
Mookie Betts sticks with the deflection and makes the play 😳 pic.twitter.com/0mHZftTqYo
Dodgers vs Brewers NLCS schedule
07:55 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse Yomtov- Game 1: Brewers 2, Dodgers 1 (in Milwaukee)
- Game 2: Brewers 7, Dodgers 4 (in Milwaukee)
- Game 3: Brewers 6, Dodgers 2 (in Los Angeles)
- Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15 – Brewers at Dodgers – 8 p.m. ET ... GET TICKETS
- Game 5*: Friday, Oct. 16 – Brewers at Dodgers – 9 p.m. ET ... GET TICKETS
- Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 18 – Dodgers at Brewers – 8 p.m. ET ... GET TICKETS
- Game 7*: Monday, Oct. 19 – Dodgers at Brewers – 8 p.m. ET ... GET TICKETS
Dodgers, Brewers starting pitchers
06:55 PM ET, October 15 2026- Milwaukee Brewers – LHP Shane Drohan (bullpen game)
- Los Angeles Dodgers – RHP Tyler Glasnow: 5–2, 3.53 ERA, 74.0 IP, 98 SO, 0.95 WHIP (13 starts)
Dodgers starting lineup for Game 4
06:54 PM ET, October 15 2026- Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
- Mookie Betts (R) SS
- Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
- Will Smith (R) C
- Kyle Tucker (L) RF
- Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
- Miguel Rojas (R) 2B
- Andy Pages (R) CF
- Enrique Hernández (R) 3B
➤ Dave Roberts goes with what brought Dodgers here, puts Ohtani back in leadoff spot
Brewers Game 4 lineup
06:51 PM ET, October 15 2026- Jackson Chourio (R) LF
- Brice Turang (L) 2B
- William Contreras (R) C
- Jake Bauers (L) 1B
- Christian Yelich (L) DH
- Garrett Mitchell (L) CF
- Cooper Pratt (R) SS
- Sal Frelick (L) RF
- David Hamilton (L) 3B
Dodgers vs Brewers odds
06:48 PM ET, October 15 2026
Freddie Freeman on Dodgers struggles
05:54 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse Yomtov"Runs are at a premium, I think everybody knows that in the playoffs. It's the best pitching staffs. You've got to have a great pitching staff to make it to the playoffs to begin with," Freddie Freeman told reporters before Game 1.
"We know it's hard to score runs. A lot of times in playoffs it's a walk, a single, and a three-run bomb. That's usually how things go. That's how it went for us in the NLDS, it was the home run."
Teoscar Hernandez celebrates 34th birthday
04:04 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovHappy birthday, Teoscar and Gavin! pic.twitter.com/U0r7ZKjXAO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 15, 2026
Dodgers vs Brewers tickets
01:54 PM ET, October 15 2026, Jesse YomtovGet Dodgers-Brewers NLCS tickets
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Brewers shocked Dodgers, swept way to World Series: NLCS takeaways
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