The 2025 National League Championship Series continues Tuesday night at American Family Field as the Milwaukee Brewers host the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 PM ET. Los Angeles took Game 1 by a 2-1 score behind a dominant performance from Blake Snell. The Brewers will look to even the series before it shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3.
Milwaukee was one of the best home teams in baseball this year at 55-30, while Los Angeles played slightly above .500 on the road at 44-40. Oddsmakers have the Dodgers listed around -125 and the Brewers at +105, with the total holding steady at 7 runs. The Dodgers lead the series 1-0, but Milwaukee is familiar with responding at home — they went 24-10 in games following a loss this season.
BREWERS Preview – Peralta Aims to Level the Series
Freddy Peralta takes the ball for the Brewers after a solid regular season in which he went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA and 230 strikeouts. He was one of the most consistent pitchers in the National League, leading the league in wins. This postseason, Peralta has gone 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA across two starts, winning Game 1 of the NLDS over the Cubs before taking the loss in Game 4.
Peralta has pitched well against the Dodgers in his career, posting a 4-2 record and a 3.27 ERA over eight starts. He faced Los Angeles twice this season and earned victories in both outings, allowing just four total runs in 11 innings. His command and ability to get swing-and-miss stuff with his fastball-slider mix will be key to keeping the Dodgers’ lineup quiet.
Milwaukee’s bullpen has been one of the best in baseball this year, finishing with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP over 457.1 innings. Closer Abner Uribe (1.71 ERA) and setup men Trevor Megill and Jared Koenig have been effective late in games. The Brewers’ pen allowed only six earned runs over the last 14 innings of playoff work. Offensively, the Brewers will look to Christian Yelich, William Contreras, and Rhys Hoskins to spark the attack after they combined to go just 2-for-11 in Game 1.
Milwaukee hit .249 as a team this season and averaged 4.93 runs per game. They’ll need better contact against Yamamoto after striking out 10 times in the opener. The Brewers went 6-0 against the Dodgers in the regular season, sweeping both series, and they’ll rely on that confidence to stay competitive in Game 2.
DODGERS Preview – Yamamoto Gets Another Shot at Milwaukee
Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the start for Los Angeles in Game 2. The 26-year-old right-hander was 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA across 30 regular-season starts and has been solid in the postseason despite limited run support. He allowed three earned runs in four innings in his last outing against the Phillies and has 14 strikeouts over his last 10.2 playoff innings.
The last time Yamamoto pitched in Milwaukee, things went poorly. He recorded only two outs on July 7, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks. That start was his shortest outing as a major leaguer. Since then, he’s settled down, posting a 1.24 ERA over his last five appearances entering this matchup. His ability to mix his splitter and fastball effectively will determine how long he can work deep into the game.
The Dodgers have been led offensively by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who both continue to produce in the middle of the lineup. Betts is hitting .355 this postseason with three extra-base hits, while Freeman added another home run in Game 1. Los Angeles averaged 5.08 runs per game during the regular season and ranked third in MLB in on-base percentage (.342). The Dodgers have shown patience at the plate, drawing 10 walks in their last two playoff games.
Los Angeles has leaned heavily on its pitching staff this postseason, which holds a combined 1.65 ERA and has allowed opponents to hit just .141. The bullpen, anchored by Evan Phillips and Blake Treinen, has delivered in tight spots, combining for 5.2 scoreless innings over the last three games. With a deep staff and balanced offense, the Dodgers have shown why they’re the defending champions.
Betting Prediction
Game 2 shapes up as another close, low-scoring contest. Both teams have top-tier pitching, and early runs will be at a premium. Peralta’s track record against Los Angeles and Milwaukee’s strong bullpen make the Brewers a solid value play at home. The Dodgers’ recent dominance from their rotation gives them the edge in consistency, but Yamamoto’s earlier struggles in this park are hard to ignore.
With the line around LAD -125 and MIL +105, the Brewers offer better value to even the series. The total at 7 suggests another tight game with strong pitching on both sides. Expect a one-run outcome once again. Predicted score: Brewers 3, Dodgers 2. Lean on the home dog and the Under based on both teams’ postseason trends.
Pick: Brewers +105, Under 7
