Dodgers on the Brink: Brewers Take 2-0 NLCS Lead as Ohtani’s Slump Deepens
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ quest for Major League Baseball’s first three-peat in 26 years is on life support after a 7-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday. The Brewers now hold a commanding 2-0 series lead and are just two wins away from their first National League pennant since 1982. The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3, but the Dodgers return home in a daunting, though not impossible, 2-0 hole.
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At the center of the Dodgers’ struggles is four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, who has been uncharacteristically quiet at the plate. In Game 2, Ohtani went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Through the first two games of the NLCS, he is just 1-for-7 with one walk and three strikeouts. His playoff slump extends further: in the 2026 postseason, Ohtani is hitting a mere 3-for-20 with no home runs, no RBIs, three walks, and seven strikeouts. The Dodgers’ offense as a whole has yet to fully show up, and concerns are mounting as the series progresses.
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Milwaukee’s victory was fueled by a strong bullpen performance and timely hitting, while Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled. The Brewers have spent the entire year building toward another shot at the Dodgers, and their preparation is paying off. One year after being swept by Los Angeles in this very series, Milwaukee is now the team with the commanding lead, trying to reach its first World Series in 44 years. For the Dodgers, the path back into the series will require a dramatic turnaround, starting with Game 3 at home.
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Despite the bleak outlook, the Dodgers remain focused on the task at hand. Key factors that will decide the 2026 NLCS include the Dodgers’ ability to wake up their dormant offense, the performance of their starting rotation, and the bullpen’s ability to hold leads. As the series moves to Los Angeles, the Dodgers will look to channel the resilience that has defined their recent success. But with O
Shimanta Das 
