Daily Double Play: Your MLB Update

## Overview of October 9, 2025 NLDS Action
Major League Baseball’s postseason spotlight was firmly on the National League Division Series on Thursday, October 9, as both matchups shifted to winner-take-all territory. At Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs leveled their series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a commanding 6–0 shutout, forcing a decisive Game 5 in Milwaukee. Simultaneously, the Los Angeles Dodgers closed out the Philadelphia Phillies in extra innings at Dodger Stadium, prevailing 2–1 in 11 frames to clinch the series and punch their ticket to the National League Championship Series ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_postseason)).

## Chicago Cubs 6, Milwaukee Brewers 0 – Cubs Force Game 5
The Cubs’ offense exploded early and never looked back, delivering a series-shifting performance in front of 41,770 at Wrigley Field. Chicago jumped on Brewers starter Freddy Peralta immediately, as Ian Happ belted a three-run home run in the opening frame to stake the Cubs to a 3–0 lead. That cushion allowed starter Matthew Boyd to settle in; Boyd went 4⅔ innings, giving up only two hits and striking out six while walking three. A combination of bullpen arms—Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller and Caleb Thielbar—then retired the final 12 Brewers batters in order, preserving the shutout and evening the best-of-five series at 2–2 ([wsoctv.com](https://www.wsoctv.com/sports/boyd-happ-lead-cubs/VBYEMCOVAU73JCODNMRLLLA4S4/)).

## Key Performances and Turning Points in Chicago
Matthew Boyd was at the heart of the Cubs’ resurgence. Pitching on three days’ rest, Boyd recorded six strikeouts and two hits allowed over his 4⅔ innings, overcoming the memory of his Game 1 exit where he lasted just two outs. Offensively, beyond Happ’s first-inning three-run blast, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch added solo home runs in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Busch’s homer marked his fourth of the postseason—his third in this series—and underscored Chicago’s potency at the plate. Rookie third baseman Matt Shaw chipped in with an RBI single in the sixth, extending the lead to 4–0 and snapping a bases-loaded miss earlier in that frame ([wsoctv.com](https://www.wsoctv.com/sports/boyd-happ-lead-cubs/VBYEMCOVAU73JCODNMRLLLA4S4/)).

## Postgame Reactions and Series Implications
“We’ve got to regroup,” Brewers star Christian Yelich admitted after the loss. Milwaukee, which posted baseball’s best regular-season record at 97–65, could manage just three hits and went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position over the two games at Wrigley Field. Manager Pat Murphy praised his club’s season but emphasized the need to rebound in front of the home crowd in Game 5. Cubs manager Craig Counsell lauded the “really great group effort”—a sentiment echoed by Nico Hoerner, who collected three of Chicago’s ten hits and hailed the Wrigley atmosphere as “electric.” With momentum firmly on their side, the Cubs will travel north for the series finale on Saturday at American Family Field ([wsoctv.com](https://www.wsoctv.com/sports/boyd-happ-lead-cubs/VBYEMCOVAU73JCODNMRLLLA4S4/)).

## Los Angeles Dodgers 2, Philadelphia Phillies 1 (11 innings) – Dodgers Clinch NLDS
At Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers and Phillies engaged in a pitchers’ duel that extended into the 11th inning. After both bullpens blanked opponents through nine, Los Angeles loaded the bases with two outs in extras. Pinch runner Hyeseong Kim then raced home on a fateful throwing error by Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering, delivering a walk-off 2–1 victory and a series-clinching win for the Dodgers. The triumph completed a 3–1 series victory, advancing Los Angeles to the NLCS for the eighth time in thirteen years ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_postseason)).

## Defensive Highlights and Standout Plays in Los Angeles
While the game’s defining moment arrived on the basepaths, the preceding defensive efforts were equally noteworthy. Trea Turner made a pair of spectacular diving stops and throws, ranging both left and right to rob extra-base hits. Enrique Hernández showcased his infield prowess with a strong across-the-diamond throw, and Max Kepler sprinted in to take a base hit away in left-center. Tommy Edman and Bryson Stott also came up with slick plays near second base, ensuring the low-scoring affair remained knotted until extras. These highlight-reel stops underscored the high stakes and razor-thin margin separating the clubs ([mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/stories/mlb-top-plays-2025-playoffs?utm_source=openai)).

## Road to the NLCS and Upcoming Matchups
With their series wrapped up, the Dodgers will await the winner of the Cubs–Brewers Game 5 to set their NLCS schedule. Chicago and Milwaukee are slated to square off at American Family Field on Saturday, October 11, at 4:38 p.m. CT, with the victor earning the right to face Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the NLCS will commence early next week, setting the stage for a best-of-seven duel that begins on the Dodgers’ home turf. As the field narrows from four postseason teams to two, both fans and analysts will be closely monitoring pitching matchups, bullpen usage, and the lingering impact of Thursday’s defensive gems. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_postseason))