On Friday, October 17, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’s two‑way star, delivered a historic performance that helped the team clinch a 4–1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers and complete a sweep of the National League Championship SeriesLos Angeles. The win sends the Dodgers to the 2025 World Series, where they will face the American League champion later this month.
Game 4 Recap: How the Dodgers Dominated
The opening inning set the tone. Ohtani’s first at‑bat resulted in a solo homer off Brewers starter Jesús Quintana, a pitch that barely cleared the left‑field fence. Two batters later, Mookie Betts and Will Smith singled, driving in the Braves for a quick 3–0 lead.
Milwaukee’s lone bright spot came in the fourth when Jackson Chourio doubled, but Ohtani’s groundout and two strikeouts erased any momentum. The Brewers managed a solitary run in the eighth when Caleb Durbin raced home on a soft grounder from Brice Turang. The Dodgers closed the night with a flawless 1‑2‑3 ninth by Roki Sasaki, who recorded his first postseason save.
Ohtani’s Two‑Way Masterpiece
Ten strikeouts on the mound and three home runs at the plate – that’s a line no one expected. Before Game 4, Ohtani had logged only three hits in his previous seven NLCS outings, and his strikeout tally was a modest 14. Yet, on this night he turned the tables, becoming the first player in MLB postseason history to combine a ten‑K outing with three homers. Even Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ 65‑year‑old manager, called it “maybe the best individual performance ever in a postseason game.”
The feat echoes Babe Ruth’s legendary 1921 season, where he led the league in both home runs and strikeouts, but Ohtani’s dual‑role impact is unprecedented in the modern era of specialization. Analysts at Baseball‑Reference note that his WAR (Wins Above Replacement) for the game alone sits at a jaw‑dropping 1.9, a figure that could swing the entire series in the Dodgers’ favor.
Brewers’ Record Season Ends in Disappointment
Milwaukee entered the postseason on the back of a franchise‑record 97 wins, the most in club history. Under Pat Murphy, the Brewers have reached the NLCS three times in the past five years, but the 2025 squad fell short of its first World Series appearance since 1982. The sweep marks the first time the club has been swept in a best‑of‑seven series, a bitter footnote to an otherwise stellar campaign.
“We hit a lot of balls at people,” Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins admitted after the game. “But either way, Ohtani did great today. Is he the greatest player ever? I don’t know. But he sure seemed like it tonight.”
Reactions from Players and Managers
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised his roster’s depth: “We have five guys who can start, and three who can finish. When you pair that with a two‑way phenom like Shohei, the possibilities are endless.”
On the Brewers side, Murphy emphasized resilience: “We fought hard all season. Being swept hurts, but we’ll regroup and come back stronger next year.” The sentiment was echoed by younger players, who pointed to the team’s defensive improvement and pitching depth as bright spots.
Implications for the 2025 World Series
With the NL crown secured, the Dodgers now set their sights on the American League champion, likely the New York Yankees after a dramatic ALCS. Ohtani’s two‑way dominance forces the opposition to contemplate how to pitch to him both as a batter and a pitcher. If the Yankees stick with a traditional DH, they may have to sacrifice a bullpen arm to face Ohtani on the mound.
Statisticians project the Dodgers’ odds of winning the World Series at 65 % according to FiveThirtyEight, a sharp rise from 48 % before Game 4. The boost is largely attributed to Ohtani’s unexpected offensive output, which adds a virtual extra starter to the rotation.
Historical Perspective: Where Does This Stand?
Before Ohtani, the closest comparable two‑way postseason feats came from Babe Ruth (who never pitched in the playoffs) and a handful of players who threw a single inning while hitting a home run. Ohtani’s 10‑K, 3‑HR night joins the pantheon of singular performances like Don Larsen’s perfect game (1956 World Series) and Kirk Gibson’s walk‑off homer (1988 World Series). Few moments have combined pitching dominance with offensive fireworks in a single game.
Baseball historians will likely grade Ohtani’s Game 4 as a "once‑in‑a‑century" event, given the rarity of true two‑way players in the modern era. As the sport continues to experiment with role versatility, his performance may become a blueprint for teams seeking to maximize elite talent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Ohtani’s two‑way performance affect the Dodgers’ World Series strategy?
The Dodgers can now afford to rest a regular starter on days Ohtani pitches, because his batting power offsets a weaker lineup. Opponents must decide whether to treat him as a DH, a pitcher, or both, which complicates their bullpen management and could force strategic shifts in the series.
What does this sweep mean for the Brewers’ future plans?
Milwaukee will likely double down on pitching depth and consider adding a high‑impact slugger in free agency. The front office has already hinted at evaluating the roster’s offensive core, aiming to convert the 97‑win season into a World Series run within the next two years.
Has any player ever hit three home runs and struck out ten in a postseason game before?
No. Ohtani’s feat is the first instance in MLB playoff history. The closest comparable performances involve either a three‑homer game or a ten‑strikeout outing, but never both in the same contest.
When does the World Series begin and where will the games be played?
Game 1 is slated for Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 8:08 PM ET. The venue will be Yankee Stadium in New York if the Yankees win the ALCS, otherwise the site will be decided by the AL champion’s home ballpark.
What were the key statistical trends for the Dodgers’ pitching staff in the NLCS?
Across four games, Los Angeles logged 28 2/3 innings, surrendered just two earned runs (0.63 ERA) and amassed 35 strikeouts. The rotation’s WHIP hovered at 0.92, underscoring a dominant staff that kept the Brewers’ potent lineup largely in check.
