MILWAUKEE — Blake Snell delivered one of the most unforgettable postseason pitching performances in recent memory Monday night, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NLCS.
There were jaw-dropping moments: a mind-bending defensive play by the Brewers that no one had ever seen in a playoff game, Freddie Freeman tormenting Milwaukee once again with a towering home run and a double, and former Dodgers closer Blake Treinen stepping in to support the young pitcher who once took his job.
But in the end, the spotlight belonged to Snell. This was his night. His masterpiece. His mark on history.
The two-time Cy Young winner faced the minimum 24 batters through eight innings, retiring the final 17 batters without allowing a single ball to leave the infield. Only Caleb Durbin’s third-inning single kept him from joining Don Larsen as the only pitchers in postseason history to throw a perfect game. Snell finished with 10 strikeouts, one hit allowed, and zero walks—becoming the first pitcher ever in postseason history to accomplish that feat over at least eight shutout innings.
“The kid is incredible,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “It’s the most dominant performance against us I’ve seen in 10 years. Snell was unbelievable.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts agreed: “This is as good as I can remember in the postseason. Against a gritty team like this, performances like that are rare. This was pretty special.”
Snell’s command was flawless. He threw only 51 fastballs out of 103 pitches, relying heavily on a devastating changeup that had Brewers hitters swinging and missing repeatedly. Over his last six starts since September 10, he boasts a mind-boggling 0.68 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 40 innings—a stretch no pitcher has ever matched in over a century of recorded statistics.
Even when chaos erupted on the field, Snell remained unshakable. In the fourth inning, a bizarre bases-loaded situation seemed destined for disaster. Max Muncy’s hit bounced off center fielder Sal Frelick and the wall, creating the first-ever 8-6-2 double play in postseason history. Snell immediately struck out the next two batters and induced a comebacker to retire the side—his composure turning potential chaos into a showcase of dominance.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who has seen 81 postseason games, called it “electric, lights out.” Freddie Freeman described it as “a masterpiece from the very first pitch.”
By the ninth inning, the Brewers finally broke through—but Snell’s brilliance had already sealed his legacy for the night. The Dodgers’ rotation, anchored by his performance, continues to redefine what postseason pitching excellence looks like, giving Los Angeles a clear path toward potentially back-to-back World Series glory.
“To be here now, it’s a dream come true,” Snell said. “I couldn’t wish for anything more. I’m just going to do my best to help us win a World Series.”
Monday night, he didn’t just pitch. He made history.
