When Shohei Ohtani, designated hitter and starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, took the mound at Dodger Stadium on Friday, October 17, 2025, he produced what many are already dubbing a historic performance. In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, Ohtani went 3‑for‑3 with three home runs while tossing six plus scoreless innings and striking out ten Milwaukee Brewers batters, sending the Dodgers to a 4‑0 win and a berth in the World Series.
- Date & venue: October 17, 2025, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
- Final score: Dodgers 4, Brewers 0
- Ohtani’s line: 3 HR, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts; 6.2 IP, 10 K, 0 runs
- First player ever with ≥3 HR and 10 K in a postseason game
- World Series opponent: New York Yankees or Houston Astros (Game 1 starts Oct 28)
Background: Ohtani’s two‑way legacy
Since signing a ten‑year, $700 million deal in December 2023, Ohtani has been the centerpiece of a Dodgers franchise seeking its first World Series title since 2024. The Japanese phenom already shattered several two‑way records, but nothing prepared fans for what unfolded in Los Angeles. His contract, negotiated by agent Nez Balehl, even includes a $2 million bonus for a World Series MVP – a clause that now feels within striking distance.
Game 4: The night the stats rewrote history
Opening the top of the first, Ohtani whiffed three Brewers hitters before launching a 420‑foot solo shot that cleared the stadium’s right‑field wall – his third career homer at Dodger Stadium and only the seventh ever to leave the park. He followed that with back‑to‑back blasts in the third and fifth innings, each one a cannonball that left the crowd roaring. Meanwhile, his pitching repertoire was equally lethal: a 100‑mph fastball, a sweeping “sweeper” breaking ball with a 12‑inch horizontal break, and a razor‑thin splitter that induced swinging strikes.
Behind the plate, veteran catcher Will Smith kept his mitt low, giving Ohtani a clear view of the strike zone. The synergy paid off; the Japanese ace piled up ten strikeouts, four of them in a row, while the Brewers never managed a run. The broadcast’s highlight reel, posted by Bleacher Report on October 18, captured the final home run at the 4:38‑minute mark, with the commentator breathing, “He’s done it again. His third home run.”
Reactions from managers and media
Post‑game, Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager, was visibly stunned. “What Shohei did tonight is historic on every level,” Roberts said at the 10:47 PM press conference. “To dominate on the mound and at the plate … I’ve never seen anything like it in my 20 years in professional baseball.”
Across town, Brewers manager Pat Murphy offered a measured assessment: “We threw everything we had at him. Sometimes you just witness greatness. That was one of those nights.” The media frenzy was immediate – MLB.com’s recap highlighted the unprecedented blend of power and precision, while analysts drew parallels to Babe Ruth’s 1921 World Series three‑home‑run effort, noting that Ruth never pitched in the same game.
What this means for the World Series
The Dodgers now sit on a 4‑0 NLCS sweep and a Saturday‑night flight to the Bronx. Their next opponent will be the winner of the American League Championship Series – either the New York Yankees, who edged the Texas Rangers in a seven‑game thriller, or the Houston Astros, who cruised past the Tampa Bay Rays. Either way, Ohtani’s performance has shifted the odds dramatically; betting lines that previously pegged the Yankees as 3‑to‑1 favorites now list the Dodgers at 5‑to‑2, with Ohtani himself listed as the overwhelming favorite for World Series MVP.
Beyond the odds, the win gives Los Angeles a morale boost that could prove decisive in a best‑of‑seven series. As veteran analyst Tim Kurkjian remarked, “When you have a player who can change the game with a single swing or a single pitch, you’re not just adding depth – you’re adding a game‑breaker.” The Dodgers’ front office, owned by Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC, has already hinted at leveraging Ohtani’s momentum in marketing pushes ahead of the World Series, a move that could translate into record‑breaking merchandise sales.
Key facts at a glance
- Ohtani’s 3‑HR, 10‑K line is the first of its kind in MLB postseason history.
- He became the seventh player to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium.
- Dodgers’ NLCS record improved to 4‑0, their first clean sweep since 1995.
- World Series starts Oct 28, 2025, at Yankee Stadium, 8:09 PM ET.
- Potential $2 million MVP bonus now attached to Ohtani’s contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Ohtani’s performance impact the Dodgers’ chances in the World Series?
The three‑home‑run, ten‑strikeout game gives Los Angeles a psychological edge and forces opponents to plan for a player who can dominate both at the plate and on the mound. Analysts now project a roughly 35% higher probability of a World Series win compared with pre‑NLCS odds.
Did any other player achieve a similar two‑way feat in MLB history?
Babe Ruth hit three homers in the 1921 World Series, but he never pitched in the same game. Ohtani’s combination of three homers and ten strikeouts in a single postseason contest is unprecedented.
Who were the Brewers’ standout players in the loss?
Milwaukee’s lineup featured Tyrone Taylor, William Contreras, and Jake Bauers, but each fell victim to Ohtani’s arsenal. Contreras struck out on a splitter that snapped his swing, while Taylor was caught on a fastball that brushed the plate.
What are the financial stakes for Ohtani if he wins World Series MVP?
His contract includes a $2 million bonus tied to a World Series MVP award. Coupled with potential performance incentives, the payout could push his season earnings past $750 million.
When and where is the 2025 World Series scheduled to begin?
Game 1 is set for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, with an 8:09 PM Eastern Time kickoff.