Dodgers 1 win away from reaching the World Series after defeating the Brewers in Game 3
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from returning to the World Series after their 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
They are one win away from becoming the first defending champion to reach the World Series in 16 years.
The Dodgers started fast when Shohei Ohtani led off the bottom of the first with a triple from Aaron Ashby. Mookie Betts doubled in the next at-bat and the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead.
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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki and catcher Will Smith celebrate their victory against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)
The Brewers responded in the top of the second inning when third baseman Caleb Durbin tripled off Tyler Glasnow and scored on left fielder Jake Bauers’ single to tie the score at 1-1.
That score held until the sixth inning when Tyler Glasnow and Jacob Misiorowski, who relieved Ashby, pitched well.
The Dodgers broke through in the sixth inning when second baseman Tommy Edman singled to center field to score catcher Will Smith, making the score 2-1.
“We’re excited,” said Edman, the 2024 NLCS MVP. “We didn’t play very well during the regular season and we’re warming up at the right time.”
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman advanced to third on Edman’s hit and scored on an error on Brewers reliever Abner Uribe’s pickoff attempt.
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Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after a triple against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2025. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
No defending champion has reached the World Series since the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies. No team has won back-to-back titles since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees won three in a row. The Dodgers are focused on taking things one game at a time.
“You have to treat it like it’s a life-or-death game,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said. “You can’t look ahead and I think that’s something a lot of teams struggle with.”
“We’re up there, but like Kobe (Bryant) said, ‘The job isn’t done,'” Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts said. “We have to keep going and keep applying pressure. We have to keep in mind that we are five wins away from what we really want.”
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Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the dugout after scoring against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2025. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
The Brewers had the Dodgers’ number in the regular season, going 6-0 against the reigning champions, but the tide has turned in this series and the Brewers are on the verge of being swept.
The Brewers have lost their last 10 road postseason games since 2018 and have just three runs and nine hits in the series. Dodgers starters have posted a spectacular 1.54 ERA in the postseason so far.
The Brewers will look to avoid being swept when they play the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at 8:38 p.m. ET on Friday.
The News contributed to this report.
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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for News Digital.