Here’s a bold statement: The Los Angeles Dodgers are rewriting the playoff playbook, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s complete game masterpiece is just the latest proof. But here’s where it gets controversial—while Roki Sasaki was technically available to pitch in relief during Tuesday night’s showdown in Milwaukee, the reality was far more nuanced. Manager Dave Roberts diplomatically noted, ‘I wouldn’t say unavailable, but it’s unlikely we’ll use him.’ So, what does this mean? The Dodgers’ so-called ‘silver bullet’ wasn’t even in the chamber for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. Yet, they still dominated, pushing the Brewers to the brink of elimination in a best-of-seven series that now feels all but decided.
And this is the part most people miss—the Dodgers didn’t just win; they strategically neutralized their bullpen’s potential weaknesses. By relying on Yamamoto’s complete game—a three-hit, 5-1 victory—they eliminated the risk of a late-inning meltdown. Add in their relentless offense, which piled on insurance runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, and you have a team firing on all cylinders. With a 2-0 series lead, the Dodgers are now just two wins away from their third World Series appearance in six seasons. Here’s the kicker: 79 out of 93 teams that took a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven postseason series went on to advance. If the Philadelphia Phillies couldn’t claw back from such a deficit, what chance do the Brewers have?
The Brewers’ bullpen, once touted as their strength, has been outshined by the Dodgers’ starting rotation. Milwaukee’s relievers are running on fumes, and even setup man Abner Uribe looked like a shadow of himself in Game 2. Meanwhile, Sasaki’s postseason workload has raised eyebrows. His failure to close out Game 1 and his declining fastball velocity have sparked legitimate concerns. As Roberts put it, ‘We’re still in uncharted territory with him.’ Here’s a thought-provoking question: Is Sasaki’s transformation from starter to reliever sustainable, or are we witnessing the limits of his endurance?
The Dodgers’ solution to this high-stakes puzzle? A return to old-school starting pitching. Just a day after Blake Snell’s dominant eight-inning performance, Yamamoto delivered a complete game that silenced the Brewers’ bats—save for Jackson Chourio’s first-pitch homer. For Yamamoto, this start was personal: redemption for his earlier struggles, including a disastrous July outing in Milwaukee where he recorded just two outs. Brewers manager Pat Murphy dismissed that performance, praising Yamamoto as ‘one of the five best pitchers in baseball.’ But even Murphy admitted, ‘We’ve studied him, studied him, studied him.’ Yet, it wasn’t enough.
With the next three games at Dodger Stadium and aces Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, and Blake Snell on the mound, the Brewers’ chances look grim. Here’s the real question: Will this series even make it back to Milwaukee for Game 6? Don’t bet on it. The Dodgers are on a mission, and their blend of starting pitching, offensive firepower, and strategic brilliance makes them nearly unstoppable. What do you think? Are the Dodgers destined for another World Series, or can the Brewers pull off the unthinkable? Let’s hear your take in the comments!
