The Brewers sealed their historic qualification at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, 15 October 2026, overturning an early four-run deficit to win the game and claim their first National League pennant.
Milwaukee will now compete in the World Series for only the second time in franchise history, having last reached baseball’s championship series in 1982, when the team was still part of the American League.
Brewers recover from four-run deficit
The Dodgers looked firmly in control after taking a 4–0 lead in the second inning, with Shohei Ohtani launching a three-run home run to give the home crowd hope of extending their championship run.
However, Milwaukee responded with a determined comeback. William Contreras and Jake Bauers hit consecutive doubles in the fourth inning to reduce the deficit to 4–2.
The Brewers continued their recovery in the fifth. David Hamilton delivered an RBI single before Bauers drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the tying run, levelling the score at 4–4.
The comeback was complete in the sixth inning when Garrett Mitchell hit a go-ahead solo home run off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott, putting Milwaukee ahead for the first time.
Hamilton then added an insurance run with a solo homer in the ninth inning, extending the advantage to 6–4.
Milwaukee bullpen shuts down Dodgers
The Brewers’ comeback was supported by a resilient bullpen that repeatedly denied Los Angeles opportunities to get back into the game.
JoJo Romero struck out Max Muncy to end a sixth-inning threat, while Aaron Ashby delivered three scoreless innings to close out the contest.
Ashby struck out Ohtani in the seventh and continued to frustrate the Dodgers as they searched for a late rally. Despite creating further opportunities, Los Angeles could not find the runs needed to keep its season alive.
The final out sparked celebrations among Milwaukee’s players, who secured the franchise’s first National League pennant and ended the Dodgers’ hopes of winning a third consecutive World Series title.
Jake Bauers earns NLCS Most Valuable Player award
Bauers was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player after playing a decisive role in Milwaukee’s four-game sweep.
He finished the series with six runs batted in and made crucial contributions during the deciding game, including a two-run double and the bases-loaded walk that tied the contest.
Mitchell also made a major impact, hitting the go-ahead home run in Game 4 after homering in the previous game.
Their contributions reflected Milwaukee’s balanced approach throughout the series, with timely hitting and effective relief pitching proving decisive against the star-studded Dodgers.
Brewers reverse last season’s disappointment
The result was particularly significant because the Dodgers swept Milwaukee out of the postseason in last year’s NLCS.
This time, the Brewers turned the tables, becoming the first team in Major League Baseball history to sweep an opponent that had swept them in the previous postseason.
Milwaukee also became the first team to complete a four-game sweep of the Dodgers in a best-of-seven postseason series since Los Angeles lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series.
For the Dodgers, Ohtani’s home run offered a brief glimpse of hope, but their inability to protect the four-run lead proved costly. Their pursuit of a historic third consecutive World Series championship ended with four straight defeats.
World Series awaits Milwaukee
The Brewers will host the opening games of the World Series, which is scheduled to begin on 23 October 2026.
Their opponents will be determined by the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays.
Milwaukee finished the regular season with a Major League Baseball-best 103 victories, and its strong campaign has continued into the postseason with the sweep of the defending champions.
The Brewers have combined timely hitting, disciplined at-bats and effective bullpen performances to reach baseball’s biggest stage. They now need four more victories to secure the franchise’s first World Series championship.
After waiting 44 years to return to the Fall Classic, Milwaukee have another opportunity to make franchise history.