The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 on Wednesday night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the NLCS. This result marks a sharp turn from last year when the Dodgers swept the series. Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, could not stop the Brewers’ offense after a strong start. Manager Dave Roberts chose to keep Snell in the game during the seventh inning, a decision that cost his team the series.
Snell allowed a home run on the very first pitch to Jackson Chourio, but he settled down for six innings. He struck out nine batters and walked only one during that time. The Brewers hit for power and showed they would not go down easily. This win puts Milwaukee just one victory away from their first World Series appearance since 1982. The team proved they are far more formidable than the squad that lost last year.
Roberts Stuck With Snell Too Long
The turning point came when Roberts decided to keep Snell pitching into the seventh inning. Snell had already faced the same batters twice, which is a dangerous spot for any pitcher. He walked Andrew Vaughn before giving up back-to-back home runs to Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell. Roberts later explained his thinking to CBS Sports. He said, “I just saw that through the sixth inning, and then once we got to the seventh inning, I think he retired 13 or 14 in a row and his stuff was really good.”
Roberts claimed he wanted Snell to face three more hitters before bringing in Evan Phillips. The plan failed when Snell gave up the home runs. Roberts admitted the leadoff walk to Vaughn was a problem. He noted that Bauers put together a good at-bat and saw eight or nine pitches. The manager also stated that Snell’s night ended because he gave up a homer after the Bauers at-bat.
A Different Story Than Last Year
Last year, the Dodgers dominated with pitching and swept the Brewers in the NLCS. Snell was the star then, allowing only one hit over eight innings in the opener. This year, the Brewers offense has been resilient and the games have been back-and-forth. FanGraphs noted that the 2026 series is nothing like the 2025 version. The Brewers are now on the brink of elimination for the Dodgers, who face a massive deficit.
The Dodgers have a punchless offensive attack that could not answer the Brewers’ runs. Those two home runs in the seventh inning essentially ended the game. Snell has been spectacular when available, but the timing of his exit was wrong. Roberts felt good about Snell’s stuff, but the numbers tell a different story. The pitcher allowed consecutive home runs to left-handed batters for the first time in his career.
The Cost of One Bad Decision
Sticking with a pitcher who has already faced the order three times is a gamble. It worked for six innings, but the seventh inning broke the game open. The Brewers took advantage of the mistake and extended their lead. Now the Dodgers must win three straight games to stay alive.
