The Los Angeles Dodgers’ dream of a third consecutive championship has come to an end. The team with the highest payroll in Major League Baseball (MLB) was swept by the modest Milwaukee Brewers, who completed the feat today with a 6-4 victory at Dodger Stadium—advancing to the World Series for only the second time in franchise history.
According to Spotrac, a website specializing in sports finance, the Los Angeles squad has a total value exceeding $433 million, including the luxury tax. In contrast, the Brewers’ payroll stands at $154 million, while the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians come in at approximately $113 million and $92 million, respectively. This highlights that even if the payrolls of the other three teams competing in the Championship Series were combined, they would still not equal that of the Dodgers.
Managed by Dave Roberts, the team found itself with its back against the wall after losing the first three games of the series. Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow controlled the matchup early on, striking out six batters over the first three innings and keeping the opposition scoreless. This strong performance on the mound was bolstered by a three-run home run from Shohei Ohtani in the second inning; combined with an RBI single from Andy Pages, it gave the Dodgers a 4-0 lead and fueled the hopes of the home crowd.
Milwaukee’s comeback and a ticket to the World Series
The momentum shifted in the fourth inning when Jake Bauers hit a double, allowing Brice Turang to score the first two runs of the night for the Brewers. The game was tied an inning later, after David Hamilton—who had reached base via a walk—later drove in a run with a single to center field.
In the sixth inning, a solo home run by Garrett Mitchell extended the lead, while in the ninth, Hamilton sealed the outcome with another homer—leaving the home team with no answer. Consequently, the hosts were swept in a Championship Series for the first time in their history.
The Brewers, returning to the World Series for the first time since 1982, avenged their loss from the previous year—when they fell in this same round to the Los Angeles squad—and will now look to capture their first Major League title.
