The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured their spot in the National League Championship Series after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series . The decisive Game 4 took place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers clinched a 2-1 victory, thereby winning the best-of-five series 3-1.

In this pivotal game, the Dodgers' pitching staff delivered a stellar performance. Veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw took the mound, pitching six innings and allowing only one run on three hits while striking out seven. His control was impeccable, issuing no walks and keeping the Phillies' offense at bay. The bullpen continued the momentum, with Roki Sasaki earning his second postseason save by closing out the game in the ninth inning.

Offensively, the Dodgers capitalized on key moments. In the fifth inning, Teoscar Hernandez led off with a double and advanced to third on a ground out. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Shohei Ohtani, giving the Dodgers a crucial 1-0 lead. The insurance run came in the seventh inning when Will Smith hit a solo home run off Phillies' reliever Jordan Romano, extending the lead to 2-0.

The Phillies mounted a late rally in the ninth inning. With two outs, Bryce Harper singled, and Nick Castellanos followed with a double, putting runners on second and third. However, Sasaki remained composed, inducing a ground out from Alec Bohm to end the threat and secure the win for the Dodgers.

This victory marks the Dodgers' return to the NLCS for the first time since their 2020 World Series championship. They will face the winner of the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets series, which is currently tied 2-2. The Dodgers' pitching depth and timely hitting have been instrumental in their postseason success, and they will look to carry this momentum forward as they aim for another World Series title.

The Phillies, despite their valiant efforts, are eliminated from the postseason. Their season ends with a strong performance in the NLDS, but they will need to regroup and address key areas in the offseason to build a more competitive team for the 2026 season.