Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell delivered a performance for the ages in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, drawing comparisons to none other than Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax. His masterful outing not only secured a vital 2-1 victory but also underscored his critical role in the team’s quest for a World Series title.
The postseason is where legends are forged, and on a recent Monday night in Milwaukee, Blake Snell etched his name into baseball history with a playoff performance that left fans and opponents alike in awe. In a game marked by a Brewers’ magical defensive play, a towering home run from Freddie Freeman, and a late-game save, the spotlight ultimately belonged to the Dodgers’ $182 million ace.
A Pitching Clinic for the Ages
In the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, Snell was in complete control from his first pitch to his last. He faced the minimum 24 batters through eight innings, retiring the final 17 without a single ball leaving the infield. This level of command led Brewers manager Pat Murphy to declare it “the most dominant performance against us” in his decade with the team, as reported by USA Today.
Snell’s near-perfect outing was only marred by Caleb Durbin’s third-inning single. Had it not been for that lone hit, Snell could have joined an elite club of pitchers to throw a perfect game in the postseason, alongside legends like Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series, Bill James in the 1914 World Series, and Chief Bender in the 1910 World Series.
His historical achievements from this game include:
- First pitcher in postseason history to allow no more than one hit, no walks, and strike out 10 or more batters in at least eight shutout innings.
- Only the fourth pitcher to face the minimum number of hitters through eight innings in postseason history.
- Threw 103 pitches, inducing 22 swings and misses, with 14 of those coming from his changeup.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remarked, “This is as good as I can remember in the postseason… You’re not going to see too many performances like that, certainly in the postseason. This was pretty special.”
Drawing Comparisons to Sandy Koufax
The buzz surrounding Snell’s performance has inevitably led to comparisons with Sandy Koufax, a figure synonymous with Dodgers pitching greatness. As noted in the Los Angeles Times, Snell’s 2025 postseason statistics bear a striking resemblance to Koufax’s legendary 1965 postseason run:
- Sandy Koufax (1965 Postseason): 24 innings, 13 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, 29 strikeouts.
- Blake Snell (2025 Postseason): 21 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, 28 strikeouts.
This side-by-side comparison highlights the sheer dominance Snell has displayed, achieving similar numbers in fewer innings. He has looked truly Koufax-esque this postseason, boasting a 3-0 record with a 0.86 ERA, allowing only six hits and striking out 28 batters over 21 innings. He has retired the side in order 16 times and given up a run in only one of his 21 postseason innings.
Defying the Narrative: From Wild Card to Postseason Ace
For much of his career, Snell has been known for his peerless stuff but sometimes erratic control, a narrative he openly challenges. “My last three years, I’ve been pretty consistent,” Snell stated, “but the narrative has always been, ‘he’s a wild pitcher, he walks a lot of guys.’ I laugh at it because I know it’s not true. I know that because I’m the one throwing the ball.”
His current run is a testament to this consistency. Since September 10th, Snell has been on an historic tear, yielding a 0.68 ERA in his last six starts, giving up just 15 hits over 40 innings with 56 strikeouts. According to OptaSTATS, he is the only pitcher in history to go 5-0 with a sub-1.00 ERA, at least 50 strikeouts, and 15 or fewer hits over six starts since ERA became an official stat in 1913.
This remarkable consistency contrasts sharply with his previous postseason struggles. Before signing his five-year, $182 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers last winter, Snell had 10 postseason starts, never lasting more than 5 ⅔ innings. Now, he has gone at least six innings in each of his three 2025 postseason starts, demonstrating a new level of endurance and control on the biggest stage.
Composure Amidst Chaos: The Zany Double Play
Snell’s composure was perhaps best exemplified in the fourth inning of Game 1, following one of the most unusual double plays in postseason history. With the bases loaded and one out, Max Muncy hit a deep fly ball that Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick brought back off the wall, turning a potential grand slam into a chaotic 8-6-2 double play. This play was so unprecedented it was the first of its kind in postseason history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Despite the Brewers’ wild celebration and the raucous crowd, Snell remained unfazed. He returned to the mound and retired the next 12 batters, striking out two of the first three he faced, effectively shutting down any momentum the Brewers might have gained. Dodgers catcher Will Smith highlighted its importance: “That was huge for Blake, to put up another zero right back out there.”
The Dodgers’ Pitching Foundation and a Dream Come True
Snell’s performance is part of a larger trend for the Dodgers’ starting rotation this postseason, which has collectively posted a 1.65 ERA over seven games, with a .141 batting average against and 56 strikeouts. This strong starting pitching has set a new franchise record for most games with at least nine strikeouts in a single postseason (five).
For Snell, signing with the Dodgers and performing at this level is a realization of a long-held ambition. “I wanted to be a Dodger and play on that team,” Snell said. “To be here now, it’s a dream come true… I’m just going to do the best I can to help us win a World Series.” Having never won a World Series ring, Snell’s current dominance is positioning the Dodgers to become the first team in a quarter-century to win back-to-back titles, marking a truly magical chapter in his career.
