Brewers complete NLCS sweep of Dodgers with 6-4 Game 4 win to reach first World Series since 1982

The Milwaukee Brewers are going to the World Series for the first time since 1982. Pat Murphy's side recovered from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, 15 October (US time), completing a 4-0 sweep of the two-time defending champions. The final out came on Friday morning Malaysia time. This follows on from Milwaukee's 6-2 win in Game 3, which put them 3-0 up.

Ohtani strikes first, then the comeback

The Dodgers looked set to extend the series when they scored four times in the second inning. Andy Pages drove in a run with a single and Shohei Ohtani followed with a three-run homer, his first of this postseason. Tyler Glasnow then retired the first 10 Brewers he faced, six of them by strikeout.

Milwaukee broke through in the fourth. Ground-rule doubles from William Contreras and Jake Bauers cut the gap to 4-2. In the fifth, the Los Angeles bullpen lost its command: David Hamilton singled home Sal Frelick, and Alex Vesia then walked Brice Turang and Contreras to load the bases before walking Bauers with two out to force in the tying run. Vesia was charged with the loss.

Mitchell and Hamilton deliver the blows

Garrett Mitchell, who also homered in Game 3, led off the sixth with a 409-foot solo shot to centre off Tanner Scott, giving Milwaukee its first lead of the night. It was the first home run of his career hit on an 0-2 count.

Hamilton, batting ninth, added insurance with a two-out solo homer off Edwin Diaz in the ninth. He had hit only four home runs in the regular season. Left-hander Aaron Ashby closed it out with three scoreless innings for the save, striking out Ohtani in the seventh and escaping an eighth-inning jam after Will Smith reached third. JoJo Romero was credited with the win.

History for Milwaukee

The Brewers' only previous World Series came in 1982, when they were still an American League club and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. This sweep also reversed last year's NLCS, when the Dodgers swept Milwaukee. Bauers was named NLCS MVP, according to the Associated Press.

Murphy summed up the contrast between his team and the star-studded Dodgers by saying "we've got a bunch of gamers — and the gamers won this week."

Guardians edge Rays to lead ALCS

Milwaukee's opponent will come from the American League Championship Series, where the Cleveland Guardians lead the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1. Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Griffin Jax in the fifth inning of Game 3 at Progressive Field, and Cleveland held on for a 3-2 win on Thursday.

Gavin Williams struck out nine over five innings, allowing two runs, and now has 33 strikeouts in 16 2/3 postseason innings. The Cleveland bullpen of Daniel Espino, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith allowed just one baserunner over the final four innings, with Smith pitching a perfect ninth. Rays slugger Junior Caminero struck out four times as Tampa Bay fanned 13 times in all.

Game 4 is scheduled for Friday evening in Cleveland (Saturday morning in Malaysia), although rain is in the forecast. MLB lists World Series Game 1 for 23 October US time, which is the morning of Saturday, 24 October in Malaysia.

Key takeaways

• The Brewers beat the Dodgers 6-4 to complete a 4-0 NLCS sweep and reach the World Series for the first time since 1982.
• Milwaukee trailed 4-0 after Shohei Ohtani's three-run homer before Garrett Mitchell's sixth-inning homer put them ahead.
• David Hamilton's ninth-inning homer and Aaron Ashby's three-inning save sealed the win; Jake Bauers was named NLCS MVP.
• The Guardians lead the Rays 2-1 in the ALCS after Petey Halpin's two-run homer won Game 3 3-2.

FAQ

Who will the Brewers play in the World Series? The winner of the ALCS between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays. Cleveland lead that series 2-1 after Game 3.

When does the 2026 World Series start? MLB lists Game 1 for 23 October US time, which falls on the morning of Saturday, 24 October in Malaysia.

When did the Brewers last reach the World Series? In 1982, as an American League team. They lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

Sources: MLB.com, Associated Press, Boston Globe, Fox Sports, ESPN