Shohei Ohtani hit three home runs Friday as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers to advance to the World Series for the second time in two years.
The Dodgers won the National League Championship at home Friday with the 5-1 win over Milwaukee. The win clinches the team’s berth to the World Series, but their opponent has not been decided.
The Dodgers jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, with Ohtani hitting a leadoff home run, and never lost it. Ohtani crushed a second homer in the fourth inning, sending the ball 469 feet and over the roof of the park.
Ohtani, also pitching, struck out 10 and gave up only two hits until being relieved at the top of the seventh.
The home crowd chanted “MVP” at his next at-bat — and Ohtani then struck his third home run of the night.
“It was really fun on both sides of the ball today,” Ohtani, who is from Japan, said through an interpreter after the team was crowned league champs. “As a representative, I’m taking this trophy, and let’s get four more wins.”
In the American League, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays are battling for the championship and their spot in the World Series. The Mariners lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, with a 6-2 win Friday.
The Dodgers will be looking for their third World Series title since 2020.
The Dodgers finished first in the NL West this season, edging out the San Diego Padres by three games to win the division.
Though they finished slightly behind last year’s pace in the regular season, the Dodgers have been dominant in the playoffs. They swept the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 in the wild card round before beating the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 in the divisional round.
While the Dodgers’ highly-priced lineup has been hitting well — they entered Friday second among postseason teams with a .254 average — the pitching staff has especially shined in October.
Entering Friday’s Game 4, Los Angeles had the best ERA 2.60 of all remaining playoff teams, as well as the best WHIP (1.02) and opponent batting average (.174).
Starting pitcher Blake Snell has been the team’s most effective starter so far. He’s 3-0 in three postseason starts with 28 strikeouts in only 21 innings pitched and a minuscule 0.86 ERA.
The Dodgers’ World Series berth continues a run of NL dominance that stretches back to the previous decade.
After appearing in zero World Series from 1989 to 2016, the Dodgers has made the Fall Classic five times since 2017. After losing back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018, the Dodgers took home championships in 2020 and 2024.
The Dodgers have been willing to spend on its recent success. The Dodgers’ payroll this season is roughly $350.3 million, the most expensive roster in MLB.
Ohtani’s teammates, who are no slouches themselves, said they were impressed with Ohtani’s performance Friday.
“Oh man, that was special,” Dodgers first baseman and nine-time All Star Freddie Freeman said after the win. “We’ve just been playing really good baseball for a while now, and the inevitable happened today with Shohei — Oh my God, I’m still speechless.”
Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell was asked Friday night after the win what impressed him more, Ohtani’s 10 strikeouts or three home runs, and he did not hesitate.
“The three home runs,” Snell said. “That was crazy.”
Despite the fireworks Friday night, Ohtani said the Dodgers as a team won the championship and are headed to the World Series.
“We won it as a team, and this was really a team effort,” he said. “So I hope everybody in L.A. and Japan and all over the world can enjoy a really good sake.”
