The 2025 MLB Postseason provides a highly touted National League Championship Series (NLCS) clash of titans between the Milwaukee Brewers and the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. This is a battle of baseball philosophies: the small-market, analytics-based Brewers (MLB's best team in 2025) vs the big-spend, superstar-laden Dodgers (seeking consecutive championships). Despite the Brewers' top regular-season mark (97-65) and shutout of the Dodgers 6-0 in their interleague series, Los Angeles is the NLCS odds-on favorite to enter the series, a reflection of their superstar firepower and recent bullpen revival. Game 1 opens on Monday, October 13th, 2025, in Milwaukee.
Match Details
Date: Monday, October 13th, 2025 (Game 1 of the NLCS)
Time: 00:08 UTC (8:08 p.m. ET)
Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Competition: National League Championship Series (Best-of-Seven)
Team Form & Playoff Momentum
The Brewers captured the NL's top seed and bye to the first round but fought through a gritty five-game NL Division Series (NLDS) versus the Cubs.
Regular Season Record: 97-65 (MLB's Best Record, NL No. 1 Seed)
Series Momentum: Defeated Chicago Cubs 3-2 in the NLDS, ending recent playoff ghosts.
Offensive Strategy: Ranked third in the Majors in runs scored, using aggressive contact batting and riding hostile errors.
Pitching Strength: Had the second-lowest team ERA (3.59) in baseball in 2025.
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the NLCS with fresh hope, accomplishing timely hitting and solid starting pitching.
Regular Season Mark: 93-69 (NL No. 3 Seed)
Series Momentum: Advanced to the NLCS by winning the strong Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 in their NLDS, with little offense provided by some of their biggest stars.
Star Power: Anchored by MVPs Shohei Ohtani (55 HR, .622 SLG) and Freddie Freeman.
Late-Game Execution: The Dodgers scored 11 of their 16 NLDS runs after the fifth inning, demonstrating their power to wear down top-shelf starting pitching.
Head-to-Head History & Key Stats
The regular season series had been traditionally one-sided in Milwaukee's direction, and this NLCS presented an interesting revenge tale for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
| Statistic | Milwaukee Brewers (MIL) | Los Angeles Dodgers (LAD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Regular Season H2H | 6 Wins | 0 Wins |
| 2025 H2H Runs Scored | 15 | 4 |
| Team Batting Avg | .258 (2nd in MLB) | .253 (5th in MLB) |
| Team ERA | 3.59 (2nd in MLB) | 3.96 (17th in MLB) |
Starting Pitchers & Key Matchups
Game 1 pitching matchup will feature two aces with contrasting histories against their opponent.
Dodgers Starting Pitcher: Lefty Blake Snell (5-4, 2.35 ERA)
Brewers Starting Pitcher: Manager Pat Murphy said that Quinn Priester (RHP) will pitch Game 1 as the bulk pitcher, possibly followed by an opener, because of his recent struggles and the bullpen-oriented nature of the Brewers' approach.
| Probable Game 1 Pitcher Stats (2025 Regular Season) | ERA | WHIP | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blake Snell (LAD) | 1.38 | 0.77 | 72 |
| Quinn Priester (MIL) | 4.30 (Est.) | 1.35 (Est.) | 157 |
Los Angeles Dodgers Key Players:
Shohei Ohtani: Slipped up in NLDS (1-for-18), but Ohtani remains the MVP bet and has 6 home runs in 13 games vs. Milwaukee.
Freddie Freeman: Finished season with .295 AVG and 90 RBIs.
Milwaukee Brewers Key Players:
Christian Yelich: Team's leader with 29 home runs and 103 RBIs.
Brice Turang: Paces team with .288 batting average and 24 stolen bases.
Current Betting Odds at Stake.com
The market recognizes the Dodgers' pitching depth and star power, granting favorite billing to them in spite of their struggles against Milwaukee during the regular season.
| Market | Los Angeles Dodgers | Milwaukee Brewers |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 Winner (Incl. Overtime) | 1.50 | 2.60 |
| Series Winner | 2.30 | 5.50 |
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Prediction & Conclusion
Game 1 Prediction
The first game will be a closely contested, pitching-brewed duel marked by the excellent pitching by both clubs. Blake Snell's stellar post-season performance (1.38 ERA) contributes to giving the Dodgers the edge. While the Brewers will be bolstered by their home crowd and Pat Murphy's "above-average Joe" mantra, the Dodgers' momentum of their sweep in the NLDS and the rest on Snell's arm will prove to be too much. The Brewers' plan to throw Game 1 with a bullpen strategy, while tactically sound, is a high-wire act that will prove too risky for the Dodgers' loaded offense.
Final Score Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers 4 - 2 Milwaukee Brewers
Who Will Become the Champions?
This NLCS series is a classic David vs. Goliath rematch. The series will be defined by the Brewers' scrappy offense and world-class bullpen vs. the Dodgers' star power and rotation depth. A Dodgers victory in Game 1 would dispel the lingering doubts from their regular season sweep and plant them firmly on the road to the World Series.
