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The Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from going back to the World Series after their 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the NLCS on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
They are one win away from becoming the first defending champion to reach the World Series in 16 years.
The Dodgers got off to a quick start as Shohei Ohtani led off the bottom of the first with a triple by Aaron Ashby. Mookie Betts ripped a double in the next at-bat and the Dodgers jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki and catcher Will Smith celebrate their win against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of baseball’s National League Championship Series, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)
The Brewers answered in the top of the second inning when third baseman Caleb Durbin tripled Tyler Glasnow and scored on left fielder Jake Bauers’ single to tie the game at 1-1.
That scoring lasted into the sixth inning as both Tyler Glasnow and Jacob Misiorowski, who relieved Ashby, pitched well.
The Dodgers broke through in the sixth inning when second baseman Tommy Edman singled into center field to score catcher Will Smith, making it 2-1.
“We’re just excited,” said Edman, the 2024 NLCS MVP. “We didn’t play well in the regular season and we’re getting hot at the right time.”
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman advanced to third after Edman’s hit and scored on an error by Brewers’ reliever Abner Uribe’s pickoff attempt.
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after a triple against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. The game took place in Los Angeles, California on October 16, 2025. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
No defending champion has reached the World Series since the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies. No team has won back-to-back titles since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees took three in a row. The Dodgers are focused on taking things one game at a time.
“You have to treat it like it’s a do-or-die game,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said. “You can’t look ahead and I think that’s something a lot of teams struggle with.”
“We’re up, but as Kobe (Bryant) said, ‘The job’s not done,'” Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts said. “We’ve got to keep going and just keep putting the pressure on. We’ve got to remember we’re five wins away from what we really want.”
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates in the dugout after scoring against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. The game took place in Los Angeles, California on October 16, 2025. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
The Brewers had the Dodgers’ number in the regular season when they went 6-0 against the reigning champions, but the tide has turned in this series as they are on the verge of being swept.
The Brewers have lost their last 10 postseason road games of 2018 and have just three runs and nine hits in the series. Dodgers starting pitchers have posted a sparkling 1.54 ERA in the postseason thus far.
The Brewers will look to avoid being swept when they play the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLCS at 8:38 PM ET on Friday.
