MLB playoffs 2025: Division Series updates as Dodgers put Phillies on the brink, Cubs seek to even series vs. Brewers

[Monday’s MLB schedule | Live blog]

The Los Angeles Dodgers put the Philadelphia Phillies on the brink of elimination with a 4-3 win in the early game Monday to take a 2-0 NLDS lead in the best-of-five series.

The Milwaukee Brewers will try to do the same to the Cubs in the nightcap after a 9-3 blowout of Chicago in Game 1 of their NLDS.

Blake Snell was brilliant. The Dodgers’ bats woke up in time. And the beleaguered Los Angeles bullpen survived as the Dodgers secured a 4-3 win over the Phillies in Game 2 and took a 2-0 lead in the NLDS.

For six innings, Monday’s game was locked in a pitchers’ duel, as Snell and Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo traded blows from the mound. Snell didn’t allow a hit until one out remained in the fifth inning. Luzardo retired 17 consecutive Dodgers batters to go into the top of the seventh knotted in a scoreless tie.

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But then Luzardo cracked. Teoscar Hernández led off with a single. Freddie Freeman followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. With that, the Philly starter’s night was done.

With reliever Orion Kerkering on the mound, Kiké Hernández delivered again in the postseason, like he has so many times before. He sent Teoscar Hernández home on a fielder’s choice and made it safely to first as the play at the plate failed. The Dodgers then loaded and cleared the bases with a two-run single by Will Smith and an RBI knock from Shohei Ohtani, his first hit of the series.

But no lead is truly safe with the Dodgers bullpen, and things got tense late. The Phillies plated a run in the eighth, then two more off Blake Treinen in the ninth, as Nick Castellanos reached second with no outs via a two-run double that cut the Dodgers lead to 4-3. Then Alex Vesia and Roki Sasaki combined to put out the fire and secure the last three outs of the game without further damage.

The series now shifts to Los Angeles, where the Dodgers will have two chances to close out the best-of-five series at home. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday (9:08 p.m. ET/TBS, TruTV). — Jason Owens

Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers: live on TBS/truTV/HBO Max

MLB Division Series live blog

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MLB playoffs 2025: Division Series updates as Dodgers put Phillies on the brink, Cubs seek to even series vs. Brewers

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