Dodgers sprinted past Milwaukee 2-1 in Game 1 of the NLCS behind Blake Snell’s masterful eight-inning gem, one hit, 10 strikeouts, and no walks. His postseason run is a microcosm of dominance, dropping his ERA to 0.86 through three starts. Milwaukee’s pitching faltered late, issuing eight walks, including a bases-loaded walk to Mookie Betts that produced the second run. A late Milwaukee rally came up short as Jackson Chourio’s sac fly in the bottom of the ninth plated a run, but Blake Treinen slammed the door to seal the win.

Durbin’s third-inning single was the day’s lone Brewers knock off Snell before he picked Durbin off at first, while Jake Bauers doubled in the ninth for Milwaukee’s only extra-base hit. The Brewers threatened in the final frame, yet the offense couldn’t string together more than the one run, leaving Los Angeles with a tight road victory and momentum heading into the rest of the series.

Pitching mastery anchors this week’s League Championship Series, with Yamamoto vs Peralta in NLCS Game 2 and Kirby vs Bieber in ALCS Game 3. Castillo relays in for Game 4 while Snell eyes another marquee showing in NLCS. Sasaki looms as the Dodgers’ late‑game disruptor, and the bullpen becomes as pivotal as the starters. Home-field, lineup quirks, and split‑season form shape the fantasy outlook as teams chase a World Series berth.

Depth and leverage pitching dominate the storylines: Yamamoto’s upside tests Milwaukee, Bieber’s experience counters Seattle’s offense, and Castillo’s steadiness could bridge to Game 5 if needed. Dodgers’ bullpen clarity, Snell’s rhythm, and Sasaki’s willingness to pitch big spots will swing late‑inning dominance, making every start a high‑stakes fantasy play.

Blake Snell hurled eight flawless innings in Game 1 of the NLCS, allowing just one hit (Caleb Durbin’s third-inning single), no walks, and 10 punchouts over 103 pitches. He faced the minimum 24 batters through eight frames, then the Dodgers barely pulled through 2-1 as Freeman homered and Betts provided steady run support. The performance drew immediate comparisons to Sandy Koufax and underscored L.A.’s dominant rotation in a postseason classic.