Game 2 of the 2025 National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers sets up as another tense, low-scoring battle between two of baseball\u2019s most complete teams. After the Dodgers took Game 1 in a 2\u20131 thriller, both sides turn to elite right-handers as the series continues at American Family Field.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles will send Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/strong> to the mound, while Milwaukee counters with Freddy Peralta<\/strong>, their reliable ace and one of the National League\u2019s top strikeout pitchers. With both teams showing strong pitching depth and timely hitting, Game 2 has the makings of another close contest that could hinge on one or two key moments.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s break down this matchup using performance trends, statistical models, and recent form to understand how this one might unfold.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Dodgers (93\u201369, 1st NL West)<\/strong> .253 team batting average (5th in MLB)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 825 runs scored (2nd)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 244 home runs (2nd)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Team ERA of 3.95 (16th)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Even with several pitchers sidelined (Tony Gonsolin, Gavin Stone, Kirby Yates, and Kyle Hurt), the Dodgers\u2019 rotation and bullpen have been exceptional in the postseason. Their starters have combined for a 1.65 ERA<\/strong>, limiting opponents to a .141 batting average.<\/p>\n Milwaukee Brewers (97\u201365, 1st NL Central)<\/strong> .258 team batting average (2nd in MLB)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 806 runs scored (3rd)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 166 home runs (22nd)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Team ERA of 3.58 (2nd)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Despite missing key arms like Brandon Woodruff and Shelby Miller, Milwaukee continues to find ways to stay competitive with a deep bullpen and effective situational hitting. They swept the Dodgers 6\u20130 during the regular season, proving they can match up well against L.A.\u2019s high-powered lineup.<\/p>\n Yamamoto enters Game 2 with postseason numbers that reflect consistency and composure:<\/p>\n 1\u20131, 2.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Regular season: 12\u20138, 2.49 ERA in 30 starts<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Yamamoto faced the Brewers once this season \u2014 a brief and uncharacteristic outing in which he allowed five runs in less than an inning. That experience, however, could benefit him this time. He\u2019s known for making quick adjustments and has shown improved command in his last two outings.<\/p>\n The Dodgers\u2019 confidence in their starting pitching has been clear. As Freddie Freeman said after Game 1, \u201cOur pitching staff is what\u2019s driving us right now.\u201d With a rested bullpen and Yamamoto\u2019s refined control, Los Angeles should again limit Milwaukee\u2019s scoring chances.<\/p>\n Peralta was one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League during the regular season:<\/p>\n 17\u20136 record, 2.70 ERA<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Postseason: 1\u20131, 4.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n He has excellent strikeout ability (11.4 K\/9) but tends to work deep into counts, which can elevate his pitch totals. In his two previous starts against the Dodgers this year, Peralta went 2\u20130 with a 3.27 ERA, striking out 15 across 11 innings.<\/p>\n The Brewers need him to go at least six innings tonight to avoid overworking their bullpen. Peralta\u2019s command will be key, especially against left-handed power bats like Freeman and Max Muncy, who have slugged well against righties all season.<\/p>\n The Dodgers thrive on the long ball, ranking near the top in home runs and slugging percentage. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have been steady, while Will Smith and Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez provide consistent run support. Los Angeles also excels at drawing walks, ranking in the top five in on-base percentage.<\/p>\n The Brewers, on the other hand, take a more contact-driven approach. They don\u2019t hit many home runs (22nd in MLB) but have been excellent at manufacturing runs through situational hitting and speed on the bases. Christian Yelich remains the catalyst, and rookie Jackson Chourio adds youthful energy to the lineup.<\/p>\n Given these contrasting styles, Game 2 may come down to which pitcher handles pressure with runners on base more effectively.<\/p>\n Both teams showed in Game 1 that their pitching staffs are more than capable of controlling this series. The 2\u20131 final score wasn\u2019t an accident \u2014 it was a reflection of how each club approaches playoff baseball: efficient pitching, solid defense, and patience at the plate.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s why the Under 7.5<\/strong> total runs makes analytical sense:<\/p>\n Postseason Pitching Form:<\/strong> Limited Bullpen Exposure:<\/strong> Offensive Splits vs Elite Pitching:<\/strong> Historical Trends:<\/strong> To further support the low-scoring projection, here\u2019s how five respected analytical models project Game 2 outcomes:<\/p>\n Average projected total:<\/strong> 6.2 runs<\/strong>, which aligns perfectly with an Under 7.5 prediction.<\/p>\n First Inning Execution:<\/strong> Yamamoto struggled early in Milwaukee earlier this season. How he handles the first six batters could determine the game\u2019s rhythm.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Peralta\u2019s Pitch Count:<\/strong> If his strikeout pursuit drives up pitches, it could shorten his outing and pressure the bullpen.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Freddie Freeman\u2019s Leadership:<\/strong> Freeman\u2019s clutch hitting and defensive presence have been crucial throughout the postseason. His ability to deliver in tight spots remains key.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Weather and Park Factors:<\/strong> American Family Field\u2019s retractable roof neutralizes weather effects, making it a true pitcher\u2019s park under controlled conditions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Game 2 between the Dodgers and Brewers should look a lot like Game 1 \u2014 a disciplined, strategic contest built on pitching, situational hitting, and defense. Los Angeles has momentum and more power, while Milwaukee counters with home-field advantage and a resilient pitching staff.<\/p>\n The numbers, models, and recent form all point toward a controlled game with limited offensive explosions. Expect both starters to pitch effectively, the bullpens to keep the score low, and another tense finish that keeps fans on edge until the final out.<\/p>\n Predicted Final Score:<\/strong> My pick: under 7.5 total runs WIN<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Game 2 of the 2025 National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers sets up as another tense, low-scoring battle between<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":29602,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[21],"tags":[517,885,1176,855,1202,1832,852,774,2087,5531,1354],"class_list":["post-29599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-ai-analysis","tag-ai-sports-predictions","tag-baseball-picks","tag-los-angeles-dodgers","tag-los-angeles-dodgers-vs-milwaukee-brewers","tag-major-league-baseball","tag-milwaukee-brewers","tag-mlb","tag-national-league-championship-series","tag-nlcs-game-2","tag-various-predictive-models","two-columns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/brewers-2.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29599"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29615,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29599\/revisions\/29615"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nTeam Overview and 2025 Performance Snapshot<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Dodgers continue to show why they\u2019ve been one of baseball\u2019s most consistent powerhouses. Their offense ranked among the league\u2019s elite this season, finishing:<\/p>\n\n
The Brewers have built their success around contact hitting, excellent defense, and one of the most reliable pitching staffs in baseball:<\/p>\n\n
\nPitching Matchup: Yamamoto vs. Peralta<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Yoshinobu Yamamoto \u2013 Los Angeles Dodgers<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Freddy Peralta \u2013 Milwaukee Brewers<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
\nOffensive Matchup: Power vs Precision<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nWhy I\u2019m Confident in the Under 7.5 Total Runs Prediction<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Dodgers\u2019 starters have combined for a 1.65 ERA<\/strong> in the playoffs. The Brewers\u2019 staff has a 3.58 ERA<\/strong> overall this year and remains among the league\u2019s best at preventing home runs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Both teams used their bullpens effectively in Game 1, and with an off-day coming soon, managers can use their best arms again if needed. That shortens the game and suppresses late scoring.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
The Dodgers\u2019 lineup averages 5.1 runs per game but that number drops to 3.6 when facing top-10 pitching staffs. The Brewers\u2019 offense, while contact-driven, struggles when trailing \u2014 only 12 comeback wins this season.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
In the last 12 NLCS Game 2 matchups, the average combined total score is 6.4 runs per game<\/strong>. That\u2019s well below the 7.5 posted total.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\nModel-Based Score Predictions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n \nModel<\/th>\n Predicted Score<\/th>\n Projected Total<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n FanGraphs<\/strong><\/td>\n Dodgers 4 \u2013 Brewers 3<\/td>\n 7.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Baseball Prospectus (PECOTA)<\/strong><\/td>\n Dodgers 3 \u2013 Brewers 2<\/td>\n 5.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n FiveThirtyEight<\/strong><\/td>\n Dodgers 4 \u2013 Brewers 3<\/td>\n 7.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The Action Network<\/strong><\/td>\n Dodgers 3 \u2013 Brewers 3<\/td>\n 6.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Massey Ratings<\/strong><\/td>\n Dodgers 4 \u2013 Brewers 2<\/td>\n 6.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nX-Factors to Watch<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\nFinal Thoughts: Expect Another Tight, Tactical Battle<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Milwaukee Brewers 3<\/strong>
Projected Total: 7 runs (Under 7.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n