There will be no three-peat in Major League Baseball. One year after the Dodgers swept the Brewers in the 2025 NLCS, en route to a second straight title, the Brewers returned the favor with a sweep of their own. Plus, Gavin Williams and the Guardians took down Tampa Bay in Cleveland.
Brewers win NL pennant
The Brewers completed the four-game sweep of the Dodgers, as the Crew won 6-4 to lock up the franchise’s second trip to the World Series.
For much of the early parts of this game, it was all Dodgers. Andy Pages gave Los Angeles a lead in the second via an RBI single. Later that inning, Shohei Ohtani belted a three-run home run for his first and only shot of the playoffs.
However, the fifth was when things collapsed for Los Angeles. Tyler Glasnow, who finished with 15 called strikes, juxtaposed to five swings-and-misses on the night, gave a two-run double to Jake Bauers to cut the lead in half. Glasnow then gave an RBI single to make it 4-3 Dodgers. Reliever Evan Phillips then walked in the tying run.
Milwaukee wound up taking the lead in the sixth inning, as Garrett Mitchell hit a solo home run for the second straight night, this one coming off Tanner Scott.
Aaron Ashby took the ball in the seventh inning after JoJo Romero worked two scoreless innings. Ashby struck out three and worked the final three innings for the save. The left-hander threw the hardest pitch of the night at 100.0 MPH and had a 35% Whiff%.
Jake Bauers, the hero of Game 3, was named NLCS MVP.
The Brewers’ last trip to the World Series came as an American League team in 1982.
Guardians win behind Williams
The Guardians won Game 3 by a score of 3-2, and in turn, took a 2-1 series lead against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Former Rays infielder Nathaniel Lowe burned his old team again, as he made a great catch in foul territory early on, and then doubled in the second to drive in Jo Adell for the game’s first run.
However, Tampa Bay responded quickly. Chandler Simpson hit a two-run triple to score two for the Rays in the fourth. But that lead didn’t last long. One inning later, Petey Halpin hit a two-run home run off Griffin Jax to give Cleveland a permanent lead.
Yet again, Gavin Williams shined. That triple to Simpson marked the only real damage off him. He ended his day with nine strikeouts over five innings and a Whiff% of 35.9%.
Neither team’s bullpen was charged with any damage, as Rays and Guardians relievers combined to toss eight scoreless frames. Cade Smith notched his second save of the playoffs.
What’s ahead?
Obviously, October 15 was the final day that multiple MLB games were contested, as just two series must be resolved before the 2026 season concludes.
Milwaukee will await the winner of the ALCS. For those wondering, the 2026 World Series is scheduled to begin on October 23. Since the Brewers had the best record in baseball this season, Milwaukee will be the host site for Games 1 & 2.
Game 4 of the 2026 ALCS is scheduled for 8 PM ET on October 16. Nick Martinez is scheduled to start for the Rays.
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