Brewers Grind Out Game 1 Win Over Dodgers in NLCS Rematch, Key Takeaways

The Milwaukee Brewers opened the National League Championship Series with a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night at American Family Field, a result that immediately sets a different tone than last year’s sweep. The Brewers managed just one run in each game of the 2025 NLCS, but a manufactured fifth-inning rally and a shutdown bullpen performance secured the early series lead.

Here are the key takeaways from Game 1.

Brewers Ball Prevails in Low-Scoring Affair

Milwaukee won more games than any other team this season by playing a specific brand of baseball: strong pitching, clean defense, and opportunistic offense. That formula was on full display Sunday. With Dodgers starter Tarik Skubal in control early, the Brewers scratched across the go-ahead run in the fifth inning without an extra-base hit.

Garrett Mitchell drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Cooper Pratt, and scored on a single up the middle by rookie Luis Lara. That 2-1 lead held up, thanks in large part to a dominant relief corps. DL Hall entered with one out in the fifth and immediately induced an inning-ending double play, one of three turned by Milwaukee on the night. Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby, and Trevor Megill combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings to close the door.

The win was the type that eluded the Brewers during last year’s sweep, when the Dodgers’ offense overwhelmed Milwaukee’s pitching. This time, the bullpen held firm.

Jacob Misiorowski’s Fastball Lacks Its Usual Bite

Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski did not have his best stuff for the second straight postseason start, but he still managed to limit damage. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out four. His four-seam fastball, which typically generates elite swing-and-miss numbers, registered a whiff rate of just 18.5% — his second-lowest mark in any outing this season.

In Game 1 of the NLDS against the Padres, Misiorowski recorded a 13.8% whiff rate on his heater, his lowest of the year. The Dodgers were able to foul off pitches and run up his pitch count, forcing an early exit. Milwaukee will need its ace to find a way to get hitters off his triple-digit fastball in his next start, potentially by mixing in his secondary pitches more effectively.

Dodgers’ RISP Woes Continue

The Dodgers hit enough home runs to sweep the Braves in the NLDS, but their inability to deliver with runners in scoring position was a recurring issue in that series. It carried over into Game 1 of the NLCS. Los Angeles went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base, including two to end the game.

The most damaging missed opportunity came in the second inning. The Dodgers had the bases loaded with one out and one run already in against Misiorowski, but Kiké Hernández grounded into an inning-ending double play. They also got a leadoff single in both the third and fourth innings but failed to score either time. In the ninth, after Kyle Tucker and Josue De Paula worked back-to-back two-out walks, Mookie Betts flied out to center field to end the game.

The Dodgers went down in order only once all night (the seventh inning) but managed just one run. If this trend continues, it will be difficult for Los Angeles to win the series.

Shohei Ohtani’s Postseason Slump Continues

Shohei Ohtani was the defining player of last year’s NLCS, delivering a historic performance in Game 4 that included three home runs at the plate and 10 strikeouts on the mound. He is not pitching this postseason due to nagging injuries, and his bat has yet to find its rhythm.

Ohtani reached base twice in Game 1 — once on a four-pitch walk and once on a flare single — but he has not recorded an extra-base hit in five postseason games. He has not homered since August 18 and has only one RBI in 23 games since that date. His batting average over that span is .163 (14-for-86) with a .503 OPS.

The Brewers are well aware of Ohtani’s ability to change a game in an instant. For now, the Dodgers are still waiting for that version to show up.

Source: MLB.com – https://www.mlb.com/news/takeaways-from-brewers-win-over-dodgers-in-nlcs-game-1