Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell is set to take the mound in an all-important Game 3 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, but isn’t letting the situation get to him.
The Dodgers lost each of the first two games of the series in Milwaukee, making Game 3 make-or-break for the Dodgers as they pursue a three-peat. Snell credited the Brewers’ growth after the Dodgers swept them in last year’s NLCS, but said the perilous circumstances aren’t getting to him.
“I don’t think about last year because it has nothing to do with this year and it’s a completely different team,” Snell said. “Just from experience, growth, mindset, discipline, where they’re at… Even the way [Brewers manager Pay Murphy]’s talking is way different than how he was talking last year.
“It’s a completely different team, I’m well aware of that. This game, and what it means to me, it hasn’t changed. 0-2, 2-0, it doesn’t matter. I know what I need to do to win and dominate and I’m going to just focus on that. …I think they’re in a good spot now, especially being up 2-0, but adversity hits and that’s when thoughts start racing.”
How Has Blake Snell Performed This Year?
Injuries cut Snell’s year short in 2026, but he has the results to back up his talk over his 10 starts this year. He posted a 1.90 ERA across nine starts in the back half of the 2026 season, striking out 55 batters across 42.2 innings pitched.
The left-hander also has one start under his belt in the postseason already, though it didn’t go quite as he would have liked. He only allowed one run, but walked five batters while throwing just 3.2 innings against the Atlanta Braves in the Dodgers’ only loss of the series.
Snell pitched against Milwaukee in the first game of last year’s NLCS, hurling eight scoreless innings on the road while striking out 10 batters and allowing just one hit. He’ll look to bring a similar calmness to the mound in Wednesday’s start as the Dodgers look to keep themselves in the fight for their third consecutive World Series title.
Game 3 of the NLCS begins Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. PT.
