The Milwaukee Brewers seized a commanding 2-0 lead in their National League Division Series against the Cubs after a power surge led them to a 7-3 victory. Andrew Vaughn ended his lengthy home run drought with a crucial three-run shot, William Contreras delivered a tie-breaking solo homer, and Jackson Chourio, battling a hamstring issue, launched a pivotal three-run homer off a blistering 101 mph fastball. This fireworks-filled night was an outlier for a Brewers team that ranked just 22nd in homers during the regular season. The Cubs, who jumped ahead early with a Seiya Suzuki three-run homer, were ultimately undone by Milwaukee’s bullpen and timely power.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Phillies, 4-3, to also go up 2-0 in their series. Blake Snell was dominant for the Dodgers, throwing six scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. The game was a pitcher’s duel until the seventh, when the Dodgers finally broke through on a slow infield dribbler by Kiké Hernández that brought home the first run. Will Smith followed up with a clutch two-run single, and Shohei Ohtani added an RBI single to give LA a four-run cushion. Philadelphia staged a fierce rally in the ninth, scoring twice with no outs, but the Dodgers bullpen, featuring Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, and Roki Sasaki, shut the door to preserve the narrow win. This win puts LA in the driver’s seat as they head home for Game 3, with history heavily favoring teams that take the first two games on the road in a five-game series.
Across the majors, upcoming action includes the Blue Jays taking on the Yankees and the Mariners facing the Tigers, as the playoff landscape continues to take shape. Injury-wise, Chourio’s rapid return was a positive sign for Milwaukee, and there were no new major injuries reported among headline stars following Monday's games.
In terms of notable individual achievements, William Contreras and Andrew Vaughn’s home runs stood out for the Brewers, while for the Dodgers, the combination of Smith’s two-RBI single and Ohtani’s first hit of the series were difference-makers. Blake Snell’s performance was historic, as only the second Dodgers pitcher to log six scoreless innings with one or fewer hits allowed in a playoff start.
Off the field, there have not been major rule changes or significant league announcements in the past day, and all eyes remain tightly focused on the on-field postseason drama. There are no blockbuster trade or roster moves making waves, as playoff rosters have locked in.
Around the world, the Korean KBO postseason is ramping up, and in the minors, teams are in off-season mode with player development and Arizona Fall League updates ongoing, but with no bombshells in the last day.
Playoff races have crystallized, with both the Dodgers and Brewers taking strong leads in their series and pressing their opponents to the brink. Listeners can look forward to more pivotal matchups, including upcoming games in these Division Series that could either close out matchups or start dramatic comebacks.
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