The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to the World Series for the second year in a row. They achieved this by beating the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2025 National League Championship Series in four games. This was possible thanks to Shohei Ohtani, who delivered one of the best individual performances in MLB playoff history.
Unprecedented Two-Way Control
On October 17, 2025, at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani had a game for the ages. He hit three home runs and struck out ten batters in six scoreless innings. This led the Dodgers to a 5–1 victory that clinched the series. Even though he had a rough start to the series, the Japanese superstar became the first player in baseball history to hit three home runs and strike out ten times in a single postseason game. He was named NLCS MVP. This showcases the extraordinary talents of Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani set the tone right away by striking out three batters in a row after a leadoff walk in the first inning. Two of them were on fastballs that were over 100 mph. Then, in the bottom half, Shohei hit a huge home run off Jose Quintana. This showed the unmatched skill of Shohei Ohtani. In the fourth inning, he hit a 469-foot home run. And in the seventh, he hit a solo home run to complete the trifecta. He did it in a way that only someone like Shohei could.
Dodgers Rule on Their Way to History
The World Series champions are now trying to become the first team in baseball history to win the title twice in a row. The last team to achieve this was the New York Yankees, who won three in a row from 1998 to 2000. The Toronto Blue Jays or the Seattle Mariners will be Los Angeles’s opponent in the Fall Classic. The Mariners are currently ahead in the ALCS by three games to two.
This is the Dodgers’ fifth World Series appearance in nine years and their 23rd overall. They were the first team in franchise history to win all four games of an NLCS. Also, they were the first team since 2022 to win all four games of any best-of-seven postseason series. Shohei Ohtani contributed significantly to their success.
Brewers’ Best Season Ends in Disappointment
Milwaukee was the top seed in the National League playoffs after winning 97 games during the regular season. This was a franchise record. In July, the Brewers won all six games against the Dodgers. But things were different in October.
The Dodgers’ pitchers kept Milwaukee to a record low. 118 batting average—the lowest ever in an MLB postseason best-of-seven series. Only four runs were scored in the four games. The Brewers haven’t been to the World Series since 1982, and they haven’t been back since. This series will be remembered not just for the Dodgers’ dominance but also for Shohei Ohtani’s incredible contributions. This highlights the influence of Shohei Ohtani in baseball history.
