The Phillies were making outstanding defensive plays all game long. And then a bounce back grounder to Phillies pitcher RHRP Orion Kerkering by Andy Pages turned into a NLDS winner. Kerkering initially fumbled the bouncer, and then panicked. JT Realmuto told him to go to 1B, but Kerkering came home, and threw wild allowing Hyeseong Kim to score the walkoff run in the 11th inning.
This was an outstanding pitching duel between LAD’s Tyler Glasnow, and Philadelphia’s Ace, Cristopher Sánchez. For all those who were complaining about Glasnow before the game started need to chill. Glasnow is an excellent pitcher, and that is why AF traded for him. Tyler matched Sánchez for the first 6.0 innings. Like Game 1, Sánchez, went out for an extra inning, and it backfired on them.
Glasnow pitched 6.0 scoreless innings on 83 pitches. 3 walks and just 2 hits to go with his 8 strikeouts. Sánchez pitched 6.1 innings, allowed 1 walk and five hits to go with 5 Ks. He left with runners on 1st and 2nd and Rob Thomson brought in Jhoan Duran. After a groundout moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd, Duran IBB Shohei Ohtani to load the bases. He then walked Mookie to force in the tying run.
Some doubted Tyler Glasnow’s ability to pitch in the postseason. Tonight he sat you all down and earned his Dodgers stripes. Thank you Glasnow ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/8PkLd4BCKg
— Klein25 (@Klein25) October 10, 2025
After Emmet Sheehan allowed the go ahead run in the 7th, Roki Sasaki was summoned to pitch the cursed 8th. No problem. Sasaki retired all three batters. He also retired all three batters in the 9th and 10th. The Dodgers were retired in order in the same three innings by Duran, Matt Straham, and Jesús Luzardo.
It sucked to give up the run in the 7th, and especially for Emmet, the way it happened. But, you have to be impressed with how he responded and kept the Phillies at one.
It would have been very easy to let the game "speed up" right there and let things get away, especially with… pic.twitter.com/MZSjPv2Nz5
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) October 10, 2025
Sasaki was brilliant…again. In 3.0 innings, Sasaki threw 36 pitches, 26 for strikes.
Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old rookie, in the 8th-10th innings of a potential closeout NLDS game against the Phillies:
3 IP
0 H
0 ER
0 BB
2 K
36 pitches
8 whiffsSpecial is an understatement.pic.twitter.com/mJR4685eL0
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) October 10, 2025
Roki Sasaki is the first Japan-born pitcher to record three or more hitless innings in relief during a postseason game. pic.twitter.com/ikEw8pKCbB
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) October 10, 2025
In the 11th, Alex Vesia walked a tightrope with a BB to Bryce Harper, and a WP putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Vesia then faced off against Harrison Bader. With the count 2-2, 4 of his last 5 pitches were out of the strike zone. He fouled off three of them and whiffed on the 4th, the 10th pitch of the AB. It was a bad AB for Bader, and Vesia walked off with the field still tied.
In the bottom half of the 11th, Freddie led off with a K. Tommy Edman followed with single on the 8th pitch of his AB. Hyeseong Kim came in to run for Edman. Smith hit a hard line drive to CF for the 2nd out. Max Muncy facing a LHP singled, and Kim raced to 3B. Kiké Hernández worked a walk to load the bases for Andy Pages.
Pages swung at a pitch well inside for strike one. He hit the next pitch back to Kerkering and he unraveled. Instead of an easy throw to 1B, he panicked, picked up the ball and fired wildly past Realmuto at the plate. Hyeseong Kim initially missed the plate but came back and touched for the winning run.
An improbable way to advance to the NLCS, off the bat of someone hitting .042 in the postseason, nonetheless, but the Dodgers are four games away from another World Series berth.pic.twitter.com/RkJ9vGjF62
— Gabe Smallson (@gabesmallson) October 10, 2025
The Dodgers are now headed back to the NLCS. This is the 7th time for Dave Roberts in his 10 years as Dodgers’ skipper. Their opponent is not yet known, as Chicago shutout Milwaukee to take their NLDS back to Milwaukee for a winner take all game 5. Personally, I am pulling for Chicago because LAD will have the home field advantage in that 7 game series.
BTW, in the Bader vs Call comp, Call reached base on all 5 of his PA: 2 hits, 2 BB, and 1 HBP. Until the K against Vesia, Bader did well at the plate and the field. But he will always have that bad AB and K.
Jhoan Duran pitched well, but not well enough with a bases loaded BB for the tying run, while Roki Sasaki was untouchable.
The Dodgers bullpen was not overmatched in this one. Roki Sasaki, Anthony Banda, Jack Dreyer, Tyler Glasnow, and Alex Vesia did not allow a run. Clayton Kershaw, Blake Treinen, and Emmet Sheehan were the relievers that allowed runs.
Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow pitched well in their wins, and the Dodgers were able to overcome a rare bad start for Yamamoto. Snell and Glasnow were particularly brilliant in their starts.
In the NLDS, Mookie, Edman, Teoscar, and Max led the team with 4 hits. The Hernández brothers led the team in RBIs with 3.
The Dodgers won with Ohtani going 1-18 (single) with 2 BB and 9 K. It sure would be helpful if he contributes in the NLCS.
Shohei Ohtani in the NLDS:
.071 AVG
.205 OPS
1 Hit
1 RBIGonna need a lot more than that pic.twitter.com/jlKoe7qfS9
— SleeperDodgers (@SleeperDodgers) October 9, 2025
Dave Roberts on Shohei
Shohei Ohtani was 0-for-5 tonight and is now 1-for-14 in this series with seven strikeouts and just one walk
Dave Roberts on what he's seeing: pic.twitter.com/y2zv9UKKh1
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) October 9, 2025
Victory X.com videos:
Dodger Fans in win
DODGER STADIUM IS BASEBALL HEAVEN RIGHT NOW!!!
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) October 10, 2025
Doc on the win celebration
"Let's celebrate tonight. Don't lose that edge, fellas. Let's keep going!" pic.twitter.com/oafTtBVa3P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 10, 2025
Tyler Glasnow interview
Tyler Glasnow on his start, if he wanted to go back out for the 7th, and what he saw from Roki Sasaki. pic.twitter.com/VzxGFAtLjN
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 10, 2025
4 SP in NLCS
Your starting pitchers for the NLDS. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dpXrKdJzh8
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 10, 2025
Dodgers team picture to go on to NLCS
On to the next one… https://t.co/16RtYzaZoB
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) October 10, 2025
As previously mentioned, I will be away until Sunday evening. Bear is setting up his new computer, and will be getting a another shot in his eye on Monday. So this may be the last post until next week.
Wow, what a nerve wrecking Game 4 this was.
Just finished watching on MLB Tv archives and will have to take a shower immeditately after finishing this post.
Both teams pitched exceptionally well. Have to tip your cap to the Phillies too. They left nothing out on the field in this one. Battled right down the wire. Have to feel a little for that Kerkering kid too. What a way to lose a close out game for your team on a play like that.
Dodgers offense was stymied again. Scored only 13 runs in 4 games. This will not do in the NLCS no matter who they play.
Ohtani has to show up at the plate. Hopefully the ball he put in play on the winning play will give Pages some badly needed confidence.
Sasaki ?! what can you say about this kid ? What a wonderfuly story .
9 up and 9 down in a huge pressure cooker situation against a formidable lineup.
Glasnow was money too. With him Ohtani, Snell and Yama we are set up well in the rotation for the next round.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
7 for 40 with 12 Ks. 0 for 6 WRISP. And they won. I’ll be honest here, I didn’t anticipate that outcome.
Teo and Betts had a decent series, both with OPS’s over 1.000. Call with an OPS of 2.000. Muncy, Edman and Kiké over .800. They showed up. Can they keep winning without Freeman and Ohtani?
I expect Milwaukee to win at home. They are the best team in the league. I sure hope all bats are on board.
Badger, it is crazy that the Dodgers won this game with the stats you referenced above. To the analytic crowd that accepts the three outcome result, Pages’ feeble contact in lieu of a strikeout shows that if a hitter puts a ball in play that anything can happen. And last night the most unexpected did and lead to a series ending victory for the Dodgers. Just sayin’
It is crazy. Now I have a better understanding of why Roberts used Rojas as a pinch hitter for Pages.
Seriously, at the time, I wondered if Roberts was ticked off at Pages for a defensive lapse.
Well, with only 4 hits, I doubt Philly stats are any better and probably worse.
And that’s why we traded Pepiot + for Glasnow. Has there ever been a better 6 starters for a playoff team? Love to see the NL finish off with Cubs-Dodgers as it started off in Japan! And with the same results!
Good point mentioned above in one of those tweet pics: Sheehan made that error but dind’t let the whole inning get away from him.
It’s wild to think that both Sheehan and Sasaki are just 23. With Yamamoto being 26-27, it’s a great setup for the future as well.
This ride is NOT slowing down at all!
Along with Stone and Ryan
Dont see Ohtani improving Friedman if he is not hurt maybe hope its the Cubs but agree with Badger on Brewers
Reading that article about Rob Hill and Sasaki was amazing stuff. After all the hoopla over Sasaki he was a huge disappointment. With the velocity drop I always figured he was injured. I’m not sure any other organization could have been as patient and as proactive as the Dodgers were in his recovery. Sasaki comes out of nowhere to perform like most of us envisioned. What a story but keep in up and the story gets bigger!!
Ohtani has got to turn it around and take a little pressure off the others. Not totally but very surprised the Phillies intentionally walked him. We never know what he would have done but in those situations he has almost been an automatic out. Who knows mb he would have hit a 3run homer.ohtani is a great power hitter but not a great hitter.
Freeman otoh has been a great hitter. We need him to perform. Betts has just been super on both sides of the ball. We need to get someone besides Betts to get hot. Smith, Muncy, Edman step up.
You got what you wanted in the 11th inning last night-
Smith hit a rocket to deep center, unfortunately an out
Edman started the rally with a 9 pitch hit
Muncy moved Kim to 3rd on a line drive hit
Hopefully, we see more of this from these 3 in Milwaukee
Brewers are not in yet. They don’t play until tomorrow.
so you think I’m being a wee bit premature calling the Brewers our next opponent, hey? My old bones just feel it to be…..
I’m predicting the Brewers.
Or the Cubs.
Prove me wrong!!!
They might well win, but if tonight is any indication of how things cannot go as predicted, I will still say, it ain’t over until it is.
Ya, glad to put that series behind us and get ready for Monday. Fresh start for all!!
There were several players that had outstanding efforts in last night’s game. I think Roki Sasaki’s three innings was the most significant. For a 23 year old to go from starter to reliver just like that is remarkable. Add to do that returning from a shoulder injury and basically learning a new windup. He has given the Dodger BP a real shot in the arm. Pardon the pun.
“The Dodgers won with Ohtani going 1-18 (single) with 2 BB and 9 K. It sure would be helpful if he contributes in the NLCS.”
It’s difficult to be critical of a hitter who has hit 111 home runs in the past two regular seasons, but the above quote from Jeff is troubling. First, how can Roberts (or the FO) continue to hit Ohtani in the leadoff position while striking out 50% of the time. Why would a southpaw pitcher EVER throw Ohtani a fastball?
To me, it’s shocking that one of the greatest players of all time has such poor pitch recognition. I’m guessing that he is guessing the pitch and has already made up his mind to swing before the pitcher releases the ball. As a leadoff hitter that doesn’t appear to be the right mindset. I believe Bear has mentioned that Mookie has better stats in the leadoff spot. Right now I would drop Ohtani down to the sixth or seventh spot in the order until he starts making improved contact.
An batting order of : Betts, Freeman, Smith, Muncy, Teoscar, Ohtani, Edman, Kiki, and Pages might be interesting.
The starting pitching has been outstanding so far in the playoffs. It’s been the complete opposite from last year where the BP was the savior for the team. If their success continues and the offense can improve a bit then a World Series victory could be had. Watching the American league teams, I don’t see anything from them to discourage me from believing the Dodgers aren’t better. Of course, better on paper is not the same as better on the field. But, the Dodgers have to get by Chicago or Milwaukee first.
Carry on.
Terrific post Ted.
I think a change in batting order would be justified but I doubt Doc and the brass will agree.
In lieu of any lineup changes, I have a dream. Since the starting rotation seems to be very competitive now, maybe the bats can now hold up their end better. Hey I get it. The pitching now is formidable. But imagine if we get strong pitching AND Ohtani and Pages to show up. I’m not as worried about Freddie.
Pages is just grinding at the dish. He’s jumpy as hell. He’s too good a hitter to get out of his fundamentals and start swing at everything. Maybe he caught it from Ohtani.
I love our starting pitching, Sasaki is a season changer, Vesia keeps me on the edge of my seat but the guy competes his ass off. I think Sheehan is fine as long as we shout “get over there” to get him covering first base on time. I trust Dreyer and Banda. Treinen, not so much and I’m good with Scott being elsewhere but I hope his “personal” issues are under control.
After that the bullpen is worrisome in a 7 game series.
The starters need to go deep into games and Ohtani and Pages need to hit. Play solid defense and I like our chances.
And I’m rooting for the Cubs tomorrow.
By the way, I’m happy to see Michael Busch have a nice season and playoffs. I’m glad he got a chance as the Dodgers just had no room at the Inn. Almonte got hurt but the trade seems like a win-win Busch has helped the Cub and Ferris and Hope are hopefully Dodger stars in the future.
Today I’m rooting for the Mariners. I’d love to see them finally get to a World Series for the first time, ever. They need to beat Skubal again, a tall task. And it may not matter as the Jays are looking damn near invincible. Vladdy’s got to cool off some time……….right?
Thanks Phil.
You got the Mariners moving on after a long, 15 inning, exciting game. When I saw Kahnle (Mr Changeup) enter the game I thought there might a good chance that the Mariners could finally end the game. And they did!
I would also like to see the Cubs move. We’ll see tonight.
How is your recovery coming along? Hopefully, well.
Cody Bellinger opted out today and will be a free agent.
I expect us to NOT resign Conforto. That leaves 2 outfielders, Pages and Teo, and who knows if Teo might even be moved to go be a DH somewhere.
The 4-7 outfield prospects we have are likely 1-3 years away, so would Belli be a decent 2-3 year signing? Not sure if I’m for or against it, but next year’s outfield could look pretty different until some of the kids are ready.
Just heard on TV that this was only the second post-season series to end on an error. That doesn’t ring true to me, but that’s the report.
Roki to the rescue in a big, big way.
One of Kim/Dean has to go.
Conforto isnt a bad option.
Do we need three catchers?
Knack or Casparius could be useful.
A. Dean is a minor league free agent. The guy is 28 years old and was signed as a AAA filler. Kim has a contract for 3-years at 12.5 million. He isn’t going anywhere since Kike and Rojas will both be free agents. Doubt LA resigns Kike. Conforto most likely will not be back. There are a ton of free agent outfielders.
I assume Dionyus–ancient Greek philosopher–is refering to the next round, not next season.
Depending on the rival pitching, Conforto could be in the mix….
But definitely not on the roster next season.
It’s a bit early to speculate about the coming FA market–Tucker, Belli, Bregman–but it seems like a bumper crop. And since AF is so reluctant to trade his prospects, I suspect the Dodgers will reel in somebody significant.
Depends on who the opponent is. Neither will be with the Dodgers next year.
I was surprised to see Pages also struggle against all those LHP like Freddie and Ohtani were.
As I’ve mentioned several other times here and getting weary repeating, I would love somebody to do a deep analysis on the pitchers Ohtani is successful against. I imagine it would be most of the #4/5 pitchers and many of the #3. And the #1/2 pitchers ONLY IF they are a RHP.
Anyone interested in doing that study? Maybe ChatGPT wouldn’t mind doing it……hmmm, I will ask my daughter, who pays so much a month for that service, to look into this.
I wasn’t. Watch his AB’s the last few weeks. He has been trying to pull everything.
That is the RVS way. Pull side power.
I know, time for a reset.
I think Ohtani is trying to avoid inside pitches / getting hit. Last year, he was pitched inside a lot and did not swing so wildly. It’s as if he is training pitchers to pitch him away vs. inside.
Thanks a great observation, Bear. We stuggle when we get into that pull mode: Ohtani, Pages, Teo, Muncy get on that back leg and just want to pull everything, frequently rolling over pitches. Freddie usually self-corrects and gets back inside the baseball and Mookie’s just in a groove.
You know I have another wish / thought. I’d like to us the organization quietly explore a hitting coach from The Jay’s Organization to bring their approach to the Dodgers. If they want to continue with the current approach that may work for some launch guys, fine. But the Blue Jays are onto something. Lok no farther than Vlad Jr. He could chase homes but he’s really a contact hitter who has the ability to hit homers with his controlled contact swing. Homer don’t have to go 450 to count.
I was thinking the same thing about a Toronto hitting coach. But I think AF/BG need to accept a different approach first.
Freddie has been missing pitches he usually drives. But he said in his interview last night that he has had a hard time picking up the ball from the Phillies lefties. Brewers have just 1 left-handed starter, Quintana and 3 LH relievers. Cubs have 2 lefty starters and 2 lefty relievers. LA has seen all of them.
In case anyone missed it, Scott underwent surgical removal of an abscess from an infection on his lower body.
He will be missed…..
/sarcasm off
But seriously now, I hope he gets well.
Likewise. We all know relievers are yo-yo’s, so I fully expect Scott to rebound next season and do very well for us.
As do I!!
Murakami to be posted this winter. 3B-OF will be 26 next year. Hit .286 with 24 homers in 69 games. Spent some time on the IL. Has 265 homers in 8 years in Japan. Started playing when he was 18. Pretty sure the Dodgers will be very interested.
I hope the Dodgers interest is very minimal. If I recall correctly, Murakami is definitely not a defensive wizard. We don’t know that his power will translate and if he only hit .286 in Japan that might wind up as .226 over here.
Granted he could turn into another Schwarber, but would you want Schwarber playing third base?
I’d like to come up with a good fielding, good hitting third baseman to replace Max in 2027 but I don’t think Murakami is that guy. Somewhere out there is a player that fits my description. We have a number of extra pitchers and outfield prospects who will never make the starting 9 here. Put a package together, overpay slightly if need be and get someone really good on both sides of the ball to play third base for us.
Bums and myself have been wanting Royce Lewis. Minnesota may be willing to trade him this Winter. They need controllable pitching, both relievers and starters.
Freland/Muncy platoon next season?
I think there’s a good chance Freeland makes the roster next season but I don’t see him as the long term solution at third base.
I do not see Freeland making the team. They will exercise Muncy’s option, just 10M, Freeland is not a good defensive option at third either.
I do not know why you keep saying he is not a good defensive 3B. He has played SS his whole life until AF thought he might be helpful at 3B with Muncy hurt. He is an outstanding defensive infielder. He also made some unbelievable plays at 2B this year. And yes, he has made errors.
I watched him play 3B more than a handful of times. He has far better range than Muncy, andf his arm is every bit as good. It is irrelevant what his MiLB stats say. He does not have even an average 1B at OKC.
I do not disagree that AF will exercise Muncy’s club option, and have repeatedly said so. But that should not mean that he should continue to flail away against LHP. Muncy played 73 games in 2024 and 100 in 2025. Don’t you think he could benefit from a platoon. He will get the majority of games because most pitchers are RHP.
You have to infuse youth at some point.
I get that, I just don’t believe Freeland is the answer. especially at third. Just my opinion. I was not impressed.
Freeland had some nice moments this season but his overall performance wasn’t great. I no longer see him beating out Rojas next season. Miggy just had a terrific season and says the next one will be his last. Dodgers love veterans, and certainly Miggy has produced.
That said, AF could decide to emphasize youth (for a change) but Freeland is the only ML-ready infield prospect in the system.
A lot of us have speculated that Rushing could be traded–but what’s the best target?
Is there a stud CF or 3B who might be on the market?
Or will AF, with his fat checkbook, just sign a FA?
Courtesy of Bob Nightengale:
In Mookie Betts’ career, 23 times a batter was intentionally walked in order to face him.
Twice with David Ortiz; 21 times with Shohei Ohtani, including yesterday.
Sooner or later, teams will learn that the man is clutch:
.526
10-for-19
5 Doubles
1 HR
3 walks
Sac Fly
18 RBI
Wow!!!
That’s a fantastic factoid.
Thank you, Bob Nightengale. And STB.
Mookie is just so clutch. I think we all see it and sense–but that documentation is impressive.
Early this season, when Mookie was in the throes of his slump, it seemed to me that he often made productive outs, like a sac fly to bring in run or a grounder to advance a baserunner.
Back when Shohei was with the Angels, he was asked which major leaguer impressed the most. He singled out Mookie.
I still think of these Dodgers as Mookie’s team. Shohei is the international marquee megastar, while Mookie is the de facto captain, leading by example and rarely making a mistake. Moving to SS accentuated his leadership role.
Rojas says he plans to play one more year and then retire.
He thanks Phil for all his support.
😎
I thank Miggy!
Right after last night’s game, someone asked me “who would be the MVP of this series, if they awarded one?”
My thought was Roki. Obviously no hitters deserved it. Roki totally changed the series and bullpen’s expectations.
Works for me.
Note to NH Dodger on your post yesterday about Kersh not going back out to pitch in 2019 against the Nats. Kersh relieved Buehler in the 7th inning with 2 outs and got the last hitter. He then went back out to pitch the 8th in game 5 and gave up the back-to-back homers to Soto and Rendon. Maeda relieved Kersh and finished the inning. Kelly had a clean 9th, then gave up the granny to Kendrick in the 10th.
Pujols close to reaching an agreement to manage the Angels.
Good fit
Interesting… I think he’s still getting paid by Moreno for “personal services.” He might be a good manager–and affordable too!
Tariq Skubal was the 255th pick (Round 9) in the 2018 mlb draft
We had pick 254 but chose someone named Luke Heyer from Kentucky
Ouch!
What a great fact to discover Bobby!
Soooo close. What a steal for Detroit. They have a fun, young team. It would interesting to face them in the WS
Anyone watching this insane game right now??
I wish the Dodgers game had ended more like this one, with a clutch walk-off single instead of an ugly walk-off blunder.
I’ll take the win as ugly as it was.
I think I agree with Duke. When the Dodger game ended that old saying “I’d rather be lucky than good” came to mind.
Can the Dodgers win it all without Freddie and Ohtani? If their luck continues, yeah, maybe. I’d rather see the two of them join in.
I think there’s more of a chance Freddie starts to contribute offensively than Ohtani. Ohtani looks like he’s lost at the plate right now. He wanted to come to the Dodgers in order to have a chance to win multiple championships. I’m assuming that he wanted to contribute to that effort. Let’s see if that will happen.
It appears there is a book on him. And how does it read? High and tight heat, low and away breaking pitches. You don’t need to throw a strike, he will help get himself out or you walk him. Whatever you do don’t miss over the plate.
Let’s hope the Cubs Brewers go 15 innings today, with Chicago winning 14-12. Then jump on a plane and come to LA
Games secondary to me right now. Son’s fiancé is seriously ill. Only 41 years old. Been in the hospital for a month now, needs a new liver.