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Thursday brought us our most dramatic day of the 2025 MLB postseason thus far. And it was because a game between two NL powerhouses came to a stunning conclusion on a play that is practiced so often in spring training. But that was only the first game of the day. The second? Well, it wasn’t as dramatic, but it did set up a do-or-die Game 5 involving MLB’s best team during the regular season against its rival. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays are waiting at home to see whether they will play the Detroit Tigers or Seattle Mariners in the AL Championship Series. The Tigers and Mariners play Game 5 of their AL Division Series today at 8:08 p.m. ET.
Here are your ALCS and NLCS start times for Games 1 and 2 beginning Sunday.
Don’t forget to watch every game with the Pitcher List community on Playback!
Division Series Digest
Dodgers In NLCS After Disastrous Phillies Finish
Final score: Dodgers 2, Phillies 1 (11 innings)
Series: Dodgers win 3-1
Next game: Dodgers vs. Brewers-Cubs winner in NL Championship Series, Monday, 8:08 p.m. ET (TBS)
In one of the most improbably finishes to a postseason game, much less an elimination game, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled out a 2-1 victory in 11 innings over the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium when reliever Orion Kerkering inexplicably made a wild throw home, allowing pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim to score from third. The victory gave the Dodgers a 3-1 triumph in the best-of-five NL Division Series and sends the defending World Series champions back to the NL Championship Series for the second straight season and the seventh time in 10 years.
Kerkering entered a 1-1 game with two outs and runners on second and third, replacing left-hander Jesús Luzardo, who had given up singles to Tommy Edman with one out and Max Muncy with two outs. Kim entered as a runner for Edman after his single. Kerkering, a key member of the Phillies’ bullpen each of the last two seasons, walked Enrique Hernández on a full count to load the bases. That brought up Andy Pages for a fateful at-bat. Kerkering threw a 96.8 mph sinker that Pages swung at and missed, then a 96.2 sinker that Pages hit back to Kerkering. The reliever didn’t field the ball cleanly and, once he did pick it up, Kerkering threw home instead of to first for the force out, but his throw went wide of catcher J.T. Realmuto, allowing Kim to score (once he came back to touch the plate after missing it initially). Kerkering said he thought throwing home was a better play than going to first (video below).
Until that moment, which was the first series-clinching walk-off decided by an error in MLB history, it had been a classic postseason elimination game. Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow and Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez each tossed six scoreless innings. Glasnow exited at that point having allowed two hits and three walks with nine strikeouts. Sanchez stayed in to start the seventh. But his Phillies teammates had struck for a run against Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan, who gave up a leadoff single to Realmuto and a one-out RBI double to Nick Castellanos. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Sanchez issued a one-out walk and gave up a single to Hernandez, prompting the Phillies to bring in closer Jhoan Duran to face Pages, the No. 9 hitter. Pages grounded out to first and then Shohei Ohtani, just 1-for-17 in the series, was intentionally walked to load the bases. Duran walked Mookie Betts on a full count to tie the game.
Newly anointed Dodgers closer Roki Sasaki, traditionally a starter, was spectacular in relief, going three perfect innings with two strikeouts. Luzardo, who was slated to start a potential Game 5, was pressed into duty in the 10th and got five outs before the finish that will haunt the Phillies.
Duran walks Betts with the bases loaded and we are tied
The emotions of October
— Talkin’ Baseball (Bot) (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-10T01:56:15.000Z
Orion Kerkering was very candid after his miscue.
— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) 2025-10-10T03:02:11.237Z
Cubs Force Game 5 With Home Runs While Silencing Brewers
Final score: Cubs 6, Brewers 0
Series: Tied 2-2
Next game: Cubs TBA vs. Brewers TBA, Saturday, 8:08 p.m. ET at American Family Field (TBS)
The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers have been called rivals ever since the team from Wisconsin moved into the National League before the 1998 season, primarily because the teams are separated by 91.8 miles of Interstate 94. The fan bases certainly don’t like each other, which was exacerbated when Craig Counsell decided he was done managing the Brewers and chose the Cubs before the 2024 season. While there was a Game 163 that decided the 2018 NL Central title, there wasn’t the playoff history. Until now. And now that is ratcheted up with a Game 5 of the NL Division Series that will decided who goes to the NL Championship Series. That became a reality after the Cubs shut out the Brewers on three hits and got home runs from Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch for a 6-0 victory at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have won two straight at Wrigley after dropping the first two games to the Brewers, who posted MLB’s best record at 97-65, at American Family Field, where the first postseason series between the teams will be decided Saturday.
For a moment, it seemed like this series would continue the crazy trend of both teams scoring in the first inning. Brewers leadoff hitter Christian Yelich drew a game-opening walk off Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd, who was lit up for six runs in two-thirds of an inning in Game 1. But Boyd, buoyed by the raucous Wrigley Field faithful, got a strikeout, fielder’s choice and fly out to become the first starter this series to escape the first inning unscathed. Brewers starter Freddy Peralta, the NL leader in wins (17) and third in MLB in opponent batting average (.193), gave up a one-out single to Nico Hoerner and walked Tucker before Happ — the longest-tenured Cubs player — continued two streaks by crushing a three-run homer to right field. Not only have the Cubs scored in all four first innings of this series, they have gone deep in each of those first innings.
But unlike Game 3, when the Brewers pecked away after the Cubs grabbed a 4-1 first-inning lead, there was no comeback by Milwaukee. The Brewers did put up a threat in the fifth inning, with Sal Frelick hitting a leadoff double and Blake Perkins walking. Following a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out, Yelich struck out against Boyd, who left to a standing ovation following his bounce back from his Game 1 performance. Reliever Daniel Palencia, the Cubs’ closer before a late-season injury, got Jackson Chourio to pop out on the first pitch.
The Cubs had been shackled by the Brewers’ bullpen in the first three games. Brewers relievers entered Game 4 with 18 scoreless innings and stretched that to 19 in Game 5. But Matt Shaw, who had been 0-for-12 this postseason, had an RBI single in the sixth to snap that streak with his second hit of the game. Tucker homered in the seventh and Busch hit his fourth this postseason in the eighth to put the finishing touches on the Brewers.
Shaaaawsome piece of hitting.
— Chicago Cubs (@cubsbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-10T03:14:48.000Z
By The Numbers
⚾ The Cubs became the fifth team to hit a first-inning homer in four games of a single postseason series.
⚾ Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio singled in the third inning, giving him a hit in all seven postseason games to begin his career.
⚾ Dodgers outfielder and speedster Justin Dean appeared in his sixth game without having a plate appearance this postseason when he pinch-ran in the bottom of the seventh inning, two shy of the MLB record.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Really, Really, Really Focused
Roki Sasaki of the Dodgers is new to this postseason thing. He was pretty intense, even in the dugout.
Celebration Scenes
A few more frames from the Dodgers’ clubhouse.
Just another day at the office 🔥🍾 #CLINCHED (MLB x @BudweiserUSA)
0-for-2 In One Trip
Cubs catcher Carson Kelly had a rough plate appearance thanks to replay review. First, he had a home run taken away, then had replay confirm a groundout when he thought he had a potential infield single.
Nevermind. Foul ball after umpire review
— Talkin’ Baseball (Bot) (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-10T03:38:35.000Z
Carson Kelly was called out on this groundout and the call stood after review. It was the second review of the at-bat after his home run was ruled to ultimately be foul
— Talkin’ Baseball (Bot) (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-10T03:41:11.000Z
Noteworthy News
Dodgers Take Scott Off Roster Following Procedure
Embattled Dodgers left-handed reliever Tanner Scott was removed from the Division Series roster after he had an abscess procedure. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski took Scott’s spot. Not only is Scott out for the rest of the Division Series, but he is ineligible to be added back until the World Series, should the Dodgers advance that far. Scott has appeared in four playoff games this year, allowing two hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings. He was not with the team for Game 3, leaving the bullpen an arm short. Manager Dave Roberts said the issue flared up during Tuesday’s workout. Signed to be the Dodgers’ closer, Scott posted a 4.74 ERA with 23 saves in 61 games in the regular season and was relegated to a mopup role.
Astros Fire Head Trainer In Staff Shakeup
The Houston Astros, with a recent history of misdiagnosing medical issues, have fired head trainer Jeremiah Randall. Among the medical missteps were slugger Yordan Alvarez this season being diagnosed with a muscle strain in his right hand in May, only later to find out via imaging that he had a fracture. Alvarez, one of the top hitters in MLB, was limited to 48 games this season. The Astros missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016 by one game.
⚾ Alex Cintron and Troy Snitker will not return as the Astros’ hitting coaches, with their contracts will not be renewed. Also not coming back are catching coach Michael Collins and assistant general manager Andrew Ball. The Astros finished 14th in MLB in team OPS at .714 and a slash line of .250/.315/.399. Their 182 homers were tied for 16th and they finished 21 in runs.
Extra Bases
⚾ Mike Greenwell, a two-time All-Star with the Boston Red Sox, died at age 62. He had been battling a rare form of thyroid cancer. Greenwell, who finished second in AL MVP voting in 1988 when he won a Silver Slugger, had a career slash line of .303/.368/.463 in 12 seasons, all with the Red Sox.
⚾ Outfielder Harrison Bader remained out of the Phillies’ starting lineup for a third straight game due to a groin injury. While Bader did pinch-hit in the ninth inning of Game 2 (and immediately pinch-ran for), he did not appear in Game 3 and then struck out as a pinch-hitter in the top of the 11th in Game 4.
⚾ Texas Rangers right-handed starter Nathan Eovaldi had surgery for a sports hernia. He is expected to be ready for spring training. Eovaldi’s season was cut short due to a strained right rotator cuff in August.
⚾ Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Robert Suarez sustained a mild right flexor strain in his final outing of the season.
⚾ The revamping of the Washington Nationals continues with at least 15 minor-league staffers not being brought back and three minor-league managers taking on new roles.
⚾ New York Mets right-handed reliever Reed Garrett underwent Tommy John surgery. He will miss the entire 2026 season.
⚾ Los Angeles Angels infielder Yoán Moncada, set to become a free agent after the season, won an arbitration judgment in excess of $7 million in a case against his former agent, David Hastings. The case was ruled on by the MLB Players Association.
⚾ The San Diego Padres signed Taiwanese right-hander Lan-Hong Su for $775,000. The 18-year-old pitched at the 18U World Cup last month, where his fastball averaged 92.1 mph.
Articles You Should Read
Tigers turn to Skubal in winner-take-all Game 5 vs. Mariners — Andrew Destin, Associated Press
Yankees need to make changes, but Cashman, Boone not among them — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
How Blue Jays’ front office built a winner — Keegan Matheson, MLB.com
Here are each organization’s prospects of the year — Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra, Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Podcast: In The Pen — Playoff talk and predictions review — Jake Crumpler and Rick Graham, Pitcher List
