The Los Angeles Dodgers, two-time defending World Series Champions, are officially on the ropes after dropping Game 2 of the NLCS 7-4 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. Milwaukee now holds a commanding 2-0 series lead, and the series is about to shift to Dodger Stadium with the defending champs needing a major turnaround.
Yamamoto’s Immortal Aura Just Shattered
Remember Yoshinobu Yamamoto? The guy who basically owned last postseason, winning World Series MVP in 2025 and looking like one of the all-time great playoff pitchers? Well, he got absolutely rocked in Game 2. The Dodgers desperately needed him to be a stopper after losing Game 1, but he lasted just 2.2 innings, giving up four hits, walking two, and surrendering three earned runs.
The third inning was a masterclass in grinding down a starting pitcher, especially one who usually looks untouchable. David Hamilton kicked it off with a single on the sixth pitch of his at-bat. Brice Turang then drew a walk on his sixth pitch. William Contreras flew out to center field with runners on first and second, but not before making Yamamoto throw seven more pitches. Then came the gut punch: a grueling 12-pitch at-bat from Jake Bauers, who ultimately drew a walk to load the bases. With the bases juiced, it took Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich just two pitches to single into center, plating a pair of runs and sending Yamamoto to the showers. He still has a remarkable 2.47 ERA over 12 career postseason outings, but for at least one day, the guy who was a peer to Schilling and Bumgarner seemed completely mortal.
Contreras Is Crowning Himself, Ohtani Is Missing in Action
While Yamamoto struggled, Milwaukee’s William Contreras is absolutely taking over this postseason. He entered Game 2 hitting a crazy .316 and followed it up with another monster performance. His seven-pitch at-bat in the third inning was huge, even ending in an out, because it helped wear down Yamamoto. But that was just the start. He smashed a first-inning RBI single, then blasted a solo homer in the fifth, followed by a sixth-inning RBI single, and an eighth-inning walk. This dude is a walking highlight reel, and he’s been key in getting the Crew within two wins of their first World Series appearance since 1982. It’s wild to think the Brewers could even consider trading Contreras in the offseason, especially with 2027 being his contract year, but right now, he’s just pure gold.
On the other side, what is happening with Shohei Ohtani? We’re talking about arguably the greatest player in MLB history here, but he went 0-for-4 in Game 2 with a pair of strikeouts. We all know the left knee injury ended his season as a pitcher, but now it’s his shoulder that seems to be completely messing with his hitting. FOX’s John Smoltz has repeatedly pointed out how Ohtani just looks non-competitive on pitches up in the zone. These are the pitches you’re used to seeing him hit 460 feet, but now he’s just late on them. He hasn’t homered since August 18, and it’s getting harder and harder to ignore. The Dodgers won back-to-back titles despite Ohtani being banged up in one of those October runs, but when he’s not a threat like this, the entire team looks a lot less like a juggernaut.
The series is heading to Dodger Stadium with the champs down 0-2. Can they rally and defend their title, or are we watching a dynasty start to crumble before our eyes?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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