When Blake Snell, starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers stepped onto the mound at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 13, 2025, he turned a regular postseason start into something dominant enough to rewrite the record books.
The game that rewrote the postseason record books
Snell threw eight perfect innings, allowing just one hit, no walks and racking up ten strikeouts on 103 pitches. 71 of those pitches—about 68.9%—were strikes, and he faced the absolute minimum of 24 batters. It marked only the second time a pitcher has gone at least eight innings in a postseason game while facing the minimum number of hitters.
The crowd of 40,000 watchful fans barely breathed as Snell’s fastball brushed 99 mph, his changeup darted like a feather, and his slider and curveball painted the corners with surgical precision. The lone hit came on a bloop single to right field in the fourth inning, but the Brewers never threatened again.
How Snell prepared to dismantle Milwaukee
In the days leading up to Game 1, Snell poured over every pitch the Brewers threw in their NLDS Game 5 win over the Chicago Cubs on October 12, 2025. He kept a white‑binder of scouting reports at his right elbow, flipping pages between innings to adjust his approach. “I wanted to know exactly what they expected, down to the slightest twitch,” Snell said after the game.
The preparation paid off. Brewers hitters, who had been riding a hot streak that included an eleven‑game winning run dubbed “Misiorowski Mania,” were caught flat‑footed. Their usual rhythm was shattered by Snell’s deceptive changeup, which baffled even the seasoned left‑hander Christian Yelich.
Reactions from players and managers
Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager of ten years, could barely conceal his disbelief. “I think it’s the most dominant performance against us I’ve ever seen in my decade here,” he told reporters, gesturing toward the empty scoreboard.
Dodgers veteran Clayton Kershaw nodded approvingly. “When Blake’s right, he’s the best pitcher in the game. To set that tone in Game 1 is huge for us.”
Even the opposition had praise. After the series, Yelich remarked, “We aren’t that far. Not as far as it seems,” and added, “You have to believe that. I do, and a lot of these guys do, too.”
Freddy Peralta, the Brewers’ 2025 NL All‑Star starter, reflected on the season’s roller‑coaster. “Nobody believed in us from Day 1 of spring training because we didn’t have the big names. Look where we ended up—best record in the majors.”
What this means for the Dodgers and the upcoming World Series
The win gave the Dodgers a 2‑1 edge and set the tone for a series they would eventually sweep 4‑0. With Snell slated to start Game 1 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on October 24, 2025, Los Angeles now holds a four‑win cushion toward a second championship in five years.
Dodger closer Blake Treinen sealed the Game 1 victory by fanning the final three batters in the ninth, preserving the narrow margin.
Analysts point out that Snell’s performance not only boosts his own legacy but also reinforces the Dodgers’ reputation for deep, ace‑heavy rotation depth—joining Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow.
Historical context: joining the elite club
Snell’s eight‑inning masterclass places him alongside legends. In the live‑ball era (since 1920), only three pitchers have tossed 20+ postseason innings with at least 20 strikeouts while holding a sub‑1.00 ERA:
- Sandy Koufax – 1965 World Series, 14 K, 0.95 ERA (18.2 IP)
- John Smoltz – 1996 NLCS, 33 K, 0.83 ERA (21.2 IP)
- Justin Verlander – 2013 World Series, 21 K, 0.69 ERA (26.1 IP)
By matching that exclusive benchmark, Snell cements his transformation from the “quick‑hook” pitcher of the 2020 World Series to a resilient, data‑driven ace.
Looking ahead: World Series preview
The Blue Jays, fresh off a dramatic ALCS win, will face a Dodgers staff that has already displayed depth, composure and a knack for delivering under pressure. If Snell repeats even a fraction of his NLCS Game 1 brilliance, Toronto will need to rely on its own aces—Kevin Gausman and Chris Sale—to keep the series competitive.
For now, Los Angeles celebrates a night that will be replayed in highlight reels for years, while Milwaukee returns to the drawing board, still reeling from what Murphy called “the most dominant performance against us.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Snell’s Game 1 performance affect the Dodgers’ chances in the World Series?
Snell’s eight‑scoreless‑inning gem not only gave Los Angeles a 2‑1 lead in the NLCS but also demonstrated that his rotation can dominate elite lineups. With him slated to start Game 1 of the World Series, the Dodgers enter with a psychological edge and a proven ace who can silence any offense, markedly boosting their championship odds.
What made Snell’s outing so statistically unique?
He faced the minimum 24 batters over eight innings, recorded ten strikeouts, allowed only one hit, and threw zero walks—all on 103 pitches with a 68.9% strike rate. It’s only the second time a pitcher has achieved that efficiency in a postseason game, joining a tiny historical list that includes Koufax, Smoltz and Verlander.
Why did Pat Murphy describe the performance as the most dominant he’d seen?
Murphy had watched the Brewers overcome an 0‑4 season start, post three major winning streaks and post a league‑best 97‑65 record. To have a pitcher shut down that momentum in Game 1—limiting his team to a single run while never walking a batter—was unprecedented in his ten‑year tenure.
How does this game fit into the broader narrative of the 2025 postseason?
The Brewers entered the NLCS after snapping a six‑year streak of series losses, while the Dodgers were seeking redemption after a 2022 World Series defeat. Snell’s performance cemented Los Angeles’ dominance, allowing them to sweep the series and set the stage for a World Series showdown with Toronto.
What are the key challenges the Blue Jays will face against the Dodgers’ rotation?
Toronto must contend with a rotation that blends veteran poise (Kershaw), power (Snell) and versatility (Ohtani). The Blue Jays’ hitters will need to adjust quickly to high‑velocity fastballs and deceptive off‑speed pitches, a task made tougher by the Dodgers’ deep bullpen, highlighted by closer Blake Treinen’s reliability.
