The postseason drama in Major League Baseball just cranked up a notch. The Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to the National League Championship Series in wild fashion, while the Chicago Cubs forced a winner-take-all battle against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers survived an 11-inning nail-biter over the Philadelphia Phillies, taking advantage of a walk-off miscue. Meanwhile, the Cubs finally rediscovered their power and evened their series. Both games delivered high-stakes excitement and set up some pretty intriguing storylines for the next round of October baseball.
Dodgers Advance After Extra-Inning Thriller
The Dodgers are heading back to the NLCS for the second year in a row, but this trip came after one of the tensest finishes of the postseason. Their 2–1 win in Game 4 against the Phillies didn’t come from a dramatic home run or clutch base hit—it ended on a walk-off error by Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering.
Kerkering’s misplay abruptly closed out the series. The Dodgers barely had time to process before the celebration started.
Pitching Dominance Paved the Way
Los Angeles leaned on its pitching depth to outlast Philadelphia. Starter Tyler Glasnow delivered six scoreless innings with sharp control.
Then rookie Roki Sasaki took over and absolutely dazzled. He threw three perfect innings, struck out eight on just 36 pitches, and kept the Dodgers close until they could tie it up.
The Dodgers finally broke through in the seventh. Phillies reliever Jhoan Duran lost the zone and walked in a run with the bases loaded.
From there, it turned into a tense chess match until that fateful error in extras sent the reigning champs on.
Phillies Face Uncertain Future
The loss stung for Philadelphia. Despite racking up 96 wins in the regular season, the Phillies exited without a playoff series victory for the second straight year.
For a team with championship hopes, that’s a tough pill to swallow. Key free agents like Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto might not come back, and the team’s core feels shaky right now.
- No playoff series wins since 2022
- Key veterans potentially leaving in free agency
- Failure to capitalize on tight games
Cubs Force Game 5 Against Brewers
Over in Chicago, the Cubs kept their season alive in style. They shut out the Milwaukee Brewers, 6–0, and evened the series at two games apiece.
It was a complete performance—early offense and strong pitching. The Cubs will try to bottle that up for Saturday’s Game 5.
Power Surge Ends Offensive Slump
Ian Happ finally broke out of his postseason funk, launching a three-run homer in the first inning to give Chicago a jolt. Long balls from Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch followed as the Cubs punished Brewers mistakes.
For a lineup that had looked shaky earlier, that felt like a sigh of relief. On the mound, Matthew Boyd bounced back after a rough Game 1 and tossed 4â…” scoreless innings.
The bullpen handled the rest, locking down the shutout.
Brewers Falter in Key Situations
For the Brewers, Game 4 was just plain frustrating. Postseason baseball really magnifies those missed chances, doesn’t it?
Milwaukee usually thrives with runners in scoring position, but not this time. They went 0-for-4 in those spots and stranded six runners—a brutal stat in a must-win game.
- 0-for-4 with RISP in Game 4
- Six runners left stranded
- Offense unable to respond to early deficit
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers have moved on, and the Cubs-Brewers series is heading to a tense Game 5. The NL playoff picture? Honestly, it’s got plenty of intrigue right now.
Los Angeles will try to ride its mix of experienced veterans and breakout young stars deeper into October. Meanwhile, the Cubs hope their Game 4 offensive explosion carries over into Milwaukee.
October baseball is all about timing, momentum, and clutch performances. The Dodgers showed they can win with patience and poise.
The Cubs proved they can flip a series with a sudden offensive jolt. Saturday night’s showdown in Milwaukee promises drama.
The NLCS is almost here, with the reigning champs already in position to defend their crown. Who’s ready for more chaos?
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Here is the source article for this story: MLB playoff live updates: Dodgers vs. Phillies score, analysis of NLDS Game 4
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