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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bid for a third straight World Series ended abruptly when Milwaukee completed a 4-0 NLCS sweep Thursday night, a result that exposed limits the star-studded roster could not overcome. The loss—by a team whose payroll exceeded $300 million—prompted candid reactions from several Dodgers, who spoke about what went wrong and what they take from the postseason exit.
Bitter: Shohei Ohtani on his slump — Sweet: already eyeing a return to pitching
Shohei Ohtani struggled through much of the series but briefly broke through in Game 4 with a three-run home run off Dustin May that gave Los Angeles a 4–0 lead in the second inning. Milwaukee rallied to win 6–4 and end the Dodgers’ season, leaving Ohtani reflective and frank about his performance.
“I really don’t take it for granted. Every player comes here and there, the composition of the team is different, different players and coaching staff. So I don’t really want to take it for granted, for the opportunity to be able to play with these guys, but you know honestly I think I’m just very disappointed,” he said through an interpreter.
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Pressed on the specific challenges he faced in the series, Ohtani acknowledged Milwaukee’s strength and accepted responsibility. “The Brewers were overall strong, and a very good team. And it really exposed some of the parts of me as a player, gotta give some credit to that,” he said. Despite the disappointment, Ohtani expressed hope about returning to the mound next season and using this defeat as motivation for the club.
Bitter: Tarik Skubal won’t discuss free agency — Sweet: praises Dodgers’ clubhouse
Acquired midseason, two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal declined to make any commitments about his future as he approaches free agency. “I’m really not going to comment on my future,” Skubal said, adding that winning a World Series is far harder than it appears from the outside.
Skubal, who went 12–7 with a 2.72 ERA in an injury-shortened 2026 campaign across 26 starts split between the Tigers and Dodgers, also reflected warmly on his brief time in Los Angeles. “I just think the group of guys, the clubhouse, the culture they have here is real. I was honored to be a part of it,” he said.
His postseason track record has been limited: prior to this season, Skubal reached the ALDS in 2024 and 2025 but had not advanced further. With collective bargaining negotiations on the horizon, the landscape for next season remains uncertain — both for whether there will be baseball and for where free agents, including Skubal, might sign. The Dodgers also face potential departures among several role players, such as Kiké Hernández, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia.
Bitter: Miguel Rojas retires — Sweet: teammates vow to regroup
A visibly emotional Miguel Rojas confirmed Thursday that he has played his final game. “This is it as a player, that was my last game played, that was the last time I put these cleats on and this uniform on as a player,” Rojas said, adding that he plans to explore roles on the other side of the sport and hopes to do so within the Dodgers organization.
Rojas leaves a 13-year major-league career that includes two championships, 1,048 hits and 61 home runs — one of the more dramatic coming as a ninth-inning tying homer in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. The team’s veterans acknowledged his contributions even as they turned their focus toward the future.
Veteran outfielder Mookie Betts highlighted the club’s internal chemistry, saying the postseason run underscored “how much we care about each other” and the way younger players stepped up when needed. Catcher Will Smith echoed that sentiment and promised the team will return with the same goal. “They just beat us. We didn’t play good… We’ll be back next year. The goal will be the same, to win the World Series,” Smith said.
What the sweep means
The sweep was a stark reminder that payroll and star power do not guarantee postseason success. Los Angeles entered the offseason with one of baseball’s largest payrolls — roughly $338 million — while Milwaukee, which ousted them, ranked 19th at about $143.5 million. After back-to-back World Series titles, the Dodgers’ failure to reach the Fall Classic for a third straight year represents a disappointment, but players and coaches emphasized lessons learned and a determination to return.
In the immediate aftermath, attention will turn to roster decisions, pending free agents and, ultimately, how the team responds. For now, the Dodgers must absorb a sudden end to a season that carried high expectations and decide how to build toward another run. Ohtani’s resolve to come back as a pitcher and the clubhouse unity described by veterans suggest the club will approach the offseason with familiar aims — even if the path forward is not yet clear.
