In Game 2 of the NL Division Series, pitcher Blake Snell was dominant, allowing only one hit in six scoreless innings and striking out nine batters. The Los Angeles Dodgers held off a late rally from the Philadelphia Phillies to secure a 4-3 victory. Freddie Freeman’s crucial defensive play and Shohei Ohtani’s RBI single contributed to the Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead. The defending champions can advance to the National League Championship Series with a win in Game 3.
The Dodgers extended their lead with a four-run seventh inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Will Smith. However, the Phillies fought back in the bottom of the ninth, narrowing the gap to 4-3 with a two-run double by Nick Castellanos. Despite the tense situation, the Dodgers managed to hold on for the win.
In another playoff game, the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-3, putting them one win away from advancing to the NL Championship Series. Andrew Vaughn and Jackson Chourio each hit three-run homers, while William Contreras added a solo shot for the Brewers. The Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki also hit a three-run homer, but the Brewers’ bullpen shut down the Cubs for the rest of the game.
With the series now shifting to Wrigley Field for Game 3, the Brewers hold a 2-0 lead and are aiming to secure their first postseason series win since 2018. Teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five series have historically had a strong chance of advancing, with 80 out of 90 instances resulting in victory.