2025 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

The National League Championship Series features a thrilling matchup of two dominant clubs: the West Division-winning Sacramento Capitals (119-43) and the Central Division champion Tempe Tempers (115-47). The Capitals, who led the entire league in wins and produced a prolific offense totaling 900 runs, prepare to face a Tempe club that boasts the lowest team Earned Run Average (ERA) in the league at 2.56 and top-tier defense, exemplified by their .989 fielding percentage. Sacramento’s success is fueled by elite power hitters like Brent Rooker, who led the club with 55 home runs and 125 runs batted in (RBI), alongside Jurickson Profar, the team leader in batting average (.305) and runs scored (133). Tempe counters this slugging ability with a deep pitching staff that includes 19-game winners Sonny Gray and Freddy Peralta, and an exceptional bullpen anchored by closer Andres Munoz, who notched 35 saves with a remarkable 0.24 ERA across 76.0 innings of relief. Whether the Capitals’ powerful core—featuring Francisco Lindor (33 HR, 105 RBI) and Rooker, who combined for over 258 Runs Created—can overcome Tempe’s stellar rotation, which also includes Yu Darvish (1.69 ERA) and Gerrit Cole (2.90 ERA), will determine who advances to the championship final. On the Sacramento side, star starters Shota Imanaga (24-3, 1.93 ERA) and Chris Sale (18-8, 2.27 ERA) will look to neutralize Tempe’s biggest threat, third baseman Jose Ramirez, who hit 50 home runs and drove in 127 RBI, and is key to Tempe’s relatively lower-scoring offense (761 runs).

Series Odds:  Sacramento Capitals: -150 Tempe Tempers: +130

GAME #1 – Sonny Gray 19-12 (3.01) vs. Chris Sale  18-5  (2.27)

The 2025 League Championship Series kicked off with fireworks as the Tempe Tempers stormed into Sacramento and took Game 1 from the Capitals, 4-1! The action started early, with Hunter Renfroe launching a solo shot in the 3rd to put Tempe on the board. Sacramento’s Jurickson Profar answered with a homer of his own in the bottom half, tying things up and electrifying the home crowd.

But the Tempers weren’t done. In the 4th, Marcell Ozuna singled, Jose Ramirez doubled, and then Freddie Freeman delivered the knockout blow—a towering three-run homer off Chris Sale that silenced the Sacramento faithful and gave Tempe a 4-1 lead they would never relinquish.

On the mound, Sonny Gray was solid for Tempe, but it was Andres Munoz who stole the show, tossing 4.1 innings of hitless, scoreless relief to slam the door and earn the win. The Capitals’ bats were stifled, managing just five hits and never threatening after the 3rd.

With clutch power, airtight defense, and shutdown relief, Tempe drew first blood in the series and seized momentum on the road!

Tempe Tempers 4 – Sacramento Capitals 1

Win: Andres Munoz  1-0  (0.00)
Loss: Chris Sale  0-1  ( 6.00)

GAME #2 – Trevor Williams  10-2  (1.32) vs. Shota Imanaga  24-3  (1.93)

In a thrilling Game 2 showdown, the Tempe Tempers stormed into Sacramento and silenced the Capitals with a 5-2 victory, evening the series in dramatic fashion. The action was electric from the start—Victor Robles set the tone with a leadoff single and a daring steal, soon scoring on Marcell Ozuna’s booming double. But Sacramento answered right back in the bottom of the first, as Michael Busch launched a two-run homer to give the Capitals an early 2-1 edge.

Tempe refused to back down. In the third, José Ramírez delivered the game’s biggest blow—a towering two-run homer that swung the momentum and put the Tempers ahead for good. The Tempers’ aggressive baserunning was on full display, swiping five bases and constantly pressuring the Capitals’ defense.

Robles continued to ignite the offense, ripping an RBI double in the fourth and scoring on Steven Kwan’s clutch single, stretching the lead to 5-2. On the mound, Trevor Williams was masterful, scattering six hits over 7.2 innings and striking out five, keeping Sacramento’s bats quiet after the first inning. The Tempers’ bullpen—Little, Kittredge, Brasier, and Jansen—slammed the door, retiring the final seven batters in order.

Sacramento’s best chance came in the eighth, when Kerry Carpenter tripled with two outs, but the rally fizzled. The Tempers’ defense was flawless, and their relentless speed and timely hitting proved too much for the Capitals.

This was a statement win for Tempe, who now head home with momentum and a fired-up roster, while Sacramento looks to regroup after letting this one slip away.

Final Score: Tempe Tempers 5 – Sacramento Capitals 2

Win: Trevor Williams  1-0  (2.35)
Loss: Shota Imanaga  0-1  (9.00)

GAME #3 – Tyler Glasnow  16-3  (2.30) vs. Yu Darvish  11-2  (1.69)

Game 3 showdown, the Sacramento Capitals outlasted the Tempe Tempers 6-3 in a contest packed with momentum swings and clutch performances. The Capitals wasted no time, as Brent Rooker launched a two-run homer in the first inning to set the tone. Sacramento extended their lead to 3-0 in the third, but Tempe roared back in the bottom half—Marcell Ozuna electrified the home crowd with a three-run blast, knotting the score and shifting the pressure.

The deadlock held until the sixth, when Sacramento’s Mark Vientos delivered the game’s pivotal moment: a towering two-run shot to center off Andrew Kittredge, reclaiming the lead for the Capitals. Francisco Lindor added insurance with a solo homer in the eighth, capping Sacramento’s offensive fireworks.

On the mound, Tyler Glasnow battled through five innings, weathering Tempe’s third-inning rally, while the Capitals’ bullpen—Megill, Estevez, Scott, and Poteet—combined for four scoreless frames to slam the door. Tempe’s Steven Kwan tried to spark a late comeback with a double in the eighth, but a slick double play ended the threat.

Sacramento’s defense was flawless, and their bats came through in the clutch, while Tempe’s bullpen couldn’t contain the Capitals’ power. With this win, Sacramento seizes momentum in the series, leaving Tempe searching for answers as the championship drama intensifies.

Final Score: Sacramento Capitals 6 – Tempe Tempers 3

Win: Tyler Glasnow  1-0  (5.40)
Loss: Luke Little  0-1  (27.00)
Save: Cody Poteet  #1

GAME #4 – Chris Sale  18-5  (2.27) vs. Gerrit Cole  13-2  (2.90)

In a heart-stopping Game 4 showdown, the Sacramento Capitals outlasted the Tempe Tempers 4-1 in a 12-inning thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats from the first pitch to the final out.

Both teams struck early, with Sacramento’s Francisco Lindor driving in Michael Busch in the top of the first, only for Tempe’s Steven Kwan to answer with a solo homer in the bottom half. From there, aces Chris Sale (Sacramento) and Gerrit Cole (Tempe) locked into a classic duel, each bending but never breaking as the game remained deadlocked at 1-1 through nine tense innings.

Defenses shined and bullpens held firm, highlighted by clutch relief from Sacramento’s Tanner Scott and Tempe’s Andres Muñoz. The Capitals threatened in the 10th, loading the bases, but Tempe’s defense cut down the go-ahead run at the plate, keeping the drama alive.

It wasn’t until the 12th that Sacramento finally broke through. Brent Rooker led off with a double, and pinch-hitter Tyler Stephenson delivered a go-ahead RBI single. Freddy Fermin then blew the game open with a two-run double, giving the Capitals a commanding lead. Cody Poteet came on to slam the door in the bottom half, retiring the side in order and sealing the victory.

Key highlights included Kwan’s early home run, Busch’s clutch hitting, and Fermin’s game-breaking double. Both teams’ bullpens were outstanding, but Sacramento’s depth proved decisive in extra innings.

Final Score: Sacramento Capitals 4 – Tempe Tempers 1  (12 Innings)

Win: Tanner Scott  1-0  (0.00)
Loss: Andres Munoz  1-1  (1.23)
Save: Cody Poteet  #2

GAME #5 – Shota Imanaga  24-3  (1.93)) vs. Sonny Gray 19-12 (3.01)

The Game 5 showdown, the Tempe Tempers edged out the Sacramento Capitals 3-1 in a contest packed with drama and momentum swings. Both teams came out firing, trading early blows—Kerry Carpenter ignited Sacramento’s hopes with a scorching triple in the 2nd, coming home on a costly error to put the Capitals up 1-0. Tempe answered right back in the bottom half, as Jose Ramirez doubled and Freddie Freeman drove him in to knot the score.

Pitching dominated the middle innings, with Sacramento’s Shota Imanaga and Tempe’s Sonny Gray trading zeros and clutch strikeouts. Gray fanned five over 4.2 innings, while Imanaga matched him pitch for pitch, keeping the Tempers in check until the 6th.

That’s when the game turned. After Steven Kwan worked a walk, Jose Ramirez delivered the decisive blow—a towering two-run homer to dead center, sending the Tempe crowd into a frenzy and putting the Tempers ahead 3-1. Ramirez finished with two hits, including that game-changing blast, and drove in all three Tempe runs.

Sacramento threatened in the late innings, but Tempe’s bullpen slammed the door. Kenley Jansen, Andrew Kittredge, Freddy Peralta, and Ryan Brasier combined for 4.1 scoreless frames, allowing just one baserunner and striking out four. Brasier sealed the win with a flawless ninth, retiring the side in order.

Highlights included Carpenter’s hustle triple, Profar’s two-hit night for Sacramento, and Ramirez’s all-around heroics for Tempe. The Capitals’ bats were stifled, managing only three hits as Tempe’s arms took control.

Final Score: Tempe Tempers 3 – Sacramento Capitals 1

Win: Kenley Jansen  1-0  (7.71)
Loss: Shota Imanaga  0-2  (6.00)
Save: Ryan Brasier  #1

GAME #6 – Yu Darvish  11-2  (1.69) vs. Tyler Glasnow  16-3  (2.30)

In a heart-stopping Game 6 showdown, the Sacramento Capitals staged a dramatic late-inning comeback to defeat the Tempe Tempers, 8-5, clinching a thrilling victory in front of their home crowd.

GAME #7 – Freddy Peralta  19-11 (3.47) vs. Chris Sale  18-5  (2.27)

In a thrilling Game 7 showdown, the Sacramento Capitals captured the championship with a commanding 8-2 victory over the Tempe Tempers. The game was packed with drama from the very first inning, as Sacramento’s Brent Rooker set the tone with a towering solo home run, giving the Capitals an early lead. Tempe’s José Ramírez answered right back in the second with a solo shot of his own, briefly tying the game and igniting hope for the Tempers.

But Sacramento’s relentless offense soon took over. Mark Vientos broke the tie in the fourth with a solo blast, and Michael Massey followed with a clutch RBI double. Jurickson Profar delivered the knockout blow later that inning, ripping a two-run triple down the right field line to stretch the lead to 5-1. The Capitals’ bats stayed hot, with Rooker launching his second homer of the night in the eighth, capping a three-hit, three-RBI performance.

On the mound, Chris Sale was masterful for Sacramento, going eight strong innings and striking out nine while allowing just two runs—both on solo homers. The Tempers’ offense was stifled, managing only two hits all game, both solo home runs by Ramírez and Marcell Ozuna. Sacramento’s bullpen sealed the deal, with Kopech, Matsui, and Lynn combining for a flawless ninth.

Tempers’ pitching struggled to contain the Capitals’ lineup, and a late-game ejection of reliever Andrés Muñoz added to their woes. Despite flashes of power, Tempe couldn’t string together enough offense to threaten Sacramento’s lead.

Sacramento’s victory was a true team effort, highlighted by Rooker’s fireworks, Vientos’ clutch hitting, and Sale’s dominant start. The Capitals hoisted the trophy in front of a jubilant home crowd, closing out the series in style.

Final Score: Sacramento Capitals 8 – Tempe Tempers 2

Win: Chris Sale  1-1  (3.10)
Loss: Luke Little  0-2  (7.36)

Despite Tempe seizing an early 2-0 lead on the road—showcasing their elite pitching and timely hitting—the prolific Sacramento offense roared back. The series turned into a slugfest marked by clutch performances, most notably a pivotal 12-inning Game 4 victory that knotted the series at 2-2. Sacramento’s Brent Rooker (leading the club with 55 regular-season home runs) and Francisco Lindor delivered crucial power in key moments, while Tempe’s offense was largely driven by the explosive bats of José Ramírez and Marcell Ozuna, the latter hitting two homers in a losing Game 6 effort.

The drama peaked in Game 6, where Sacramento staged a dramatic late-inning comeback, featuring back-to-back home runs from Rooker and Lindor, to force a winner-take-all finale. In the decisive Game 7, Capitals starter Chris Sale delivered a masterful performance, striking out nine over eight dominant innings. Rooker’s two home runs and Jurickson Profar‘s two-run triple fueled an 8-2 victory, shattering Tempe’s championship hopes and confirming Sacramento as the league’s most powerful team. The Capitals overcame an early deficit to win the series 4-3.