Shohei Ohtani Leads Dodgers to NLCS Sweep with Amazing Game 4 Performance

Shohei Ohtani had an all-time great performance in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. It was a sensational exhibit of his two-way skills.

The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar hammered three home runs, starting with a leadoff blast in the first inning, and he pitched exceptionally well for six-plus innings on Friday night, October 17.

Ohtani was named NLCS MVP after leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, who were swept in the best-of-seven series.

In addition to his three towering blasts, Ohtani held the Brewers to two hits and zero runs. He struck out the side in a tone-setting first inning and finished with 10 strikeouts while walking three.

*Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani pitches in the first inning of Game 4 of the NLCS. (Kiyoshi Mio/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS)*

After Friday's NLCS clincher, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke in awe of Ohtani's performance. He called it "probably the greatest postseason performance of all time."

"There's been a lot of postseason games," Roberts told reporters. "And there's a reason why he's the greatest player on the planet. What he did on the mound, what he did at the bat, he created a lot of memories for a lot of people."

The longtime LA skipper added, "I'm just happy to be able to go along for the ride."

After surrendering a leadoff walk and a single in the seventh inning and the Dodgers leading 4-0, Ohtani walked off the pitcher's mound to thunderous applause at Dodger Stadium. The reigning NL MVP, who belted a career-high 55 homers in 2025, remained in the game as LA's designated hitter.

Relievers Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Anthony Banda and Roki Sasaki completed the pitching duties for the reigning World Series champion Dodgers.

LA to Play Seattle-Toronto Winner in World Series

The Dodgers will face the Seattle Mariners or the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, starting on October 24. In the American League Championship Series, the Mariners took a 3-2 series lead on Friday night, winning 6-2 at home.

For the World Series, Game 1's location is not yet determined. The Fall Classic participant with the most wins in the regular season is penciled in to host Games 1, 2, 6 and 7. LA won 93 regular-season games, Seattle triumphed 90 times and Toronto had 94 victories.

Shohei Ohtani Breaks Out of Slump

As a batter, Ohtani struggled in the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He was 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts.

And heading into Game 3 against the Brewers on Thursday, he was 2-for-25 since the start of the NLDS.

Ohtani bashed a leadoff triple in the first inning of LA's Game 3 win and went 1-for-4 while reminding everyone of his potent power with a bat in his hands.

"I felt like the last couple [of] days I felt pretty good at the plate," Ohtani told reporters after Friday's game. "And just because of the postseason, the sample size, the lack of, it's just that I think the lack of performance really skews in this short period of time."

In Game 4, Ohtani smacked a 446-foot (136-meter) homer to right field off Brewers starter Jose Quintana in the first inning. He became the first pitcher to hit a leadoff homer in MLB history.

In the fourth, Ohtani hit a 469-foot (143-meter) homer to right-center off Chad Patrick to extend LA's lead to 4-0.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh, moments after his pitching duties had ended, Ohtani pounded Trevor Megill's 2–1 offering. His bat connected with the four-seam fastball and sent it flying 427 feet (130 meters) over the center-field wall to make it 5-0.

Ohtani went 3-for-3 with a walk in Game 4.

"I haven't had too many hits so far [in the postseason]," he said, according to Kyodo News. "I've made my contribution in just one game this way. It was not only the home runs but also the walk, and I'm trying to have good at-bats each time."

'Absolutely Incredible'

After the game wrapped up, teammate Freddie Freeman, MVP of the 2024 World Series, marveled at Ohtani's performance.

"Sometimes you've got to check yourself and touch him to make sure he's not just made of steel," first baseman Freeman said, according to The Associated Press, making a cultural reference to Superman. "Absolutely incredible. Biggest stage, and he goes out and does something like that. It'll probably be remembered as the Shohei Ohtani game."

Roberts dismissed the notion that two-way duties have impacted Ohtani's ability to be a productive batter.

"I think there was a lot of talk that he was scuffling at the plate, he doesn't swing the bat well when he's pitching," Roberts said after Game 4. "And all those things I think were fuel to his fire.

"So, today when he took the mound, you can see the focus, the intent. And after that shutdown first inning, just the at-bat right there, you could see that he was smelling a really good night tonight."

World Series Talk

The Dodgers are seeking to become the first MLB team to repeat as World Series champions since the New York Yankees won three consecutive titles from 1998-2000.

During the Dodgers' sensational postseason run, they are 9-1.

"We want to win this year," Roberts said before adding, "we want to win for the 2025 team and let people talk about all that other stuff afterward."

Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.