The Los Angeles Dodgers had an opportunity to steal some momentum back from the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, but manager Dave Roberts may have made a decision that cost his team the season.

Heading into Game 3, the Dodgers had a lot of work to do. The Brewers had taken both games in Milwaukee, and Los Angeles needed to defend its turf.

Left-hander Blake Snell got the start for the Dodgers. After giving up a first-pitch home run to Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio, Snell locked in, striking out the next three batters he faced and continuing to make things difficult for Milwaukee's lineup. 

That was, until the top of the seventh inning.

By the top of the seventh, Snell had racked up nine strikeouts following the home run he gave up in the first inning. However, his pitch count was creeping toward 100, and he walked leadoff batter Andrew Vaughn to begin the frame. However, Roberts left him in, and it was a grave mistake.

After walking Vaughn, Snell entered an 11-pitch battle with Jake Bauers, and Bauers made him pay for it with a two-run home run. That gave the Brewers back the lead after the Dodgers had taken it in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a two-RBI double by catcher Will Smith.

Even then, that was not enough for Roberts to take Snell out, and Garrett Mitchell followed up with a solo home run of his own to give the Brewers a 4-2 lead. Finally, Roberts replaced Snell with Evan Phillips, and Los Angeles got out of the inning, but it was much too late, as Milwaukee went on to win 6-2 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.

Recently, I wrote about the battle of chess that Roberts and Brewers manager Pat Murphy are in as they strategically go head to head as two of the best managers in the sport. I emphasized that Roberts would have to galvanize his team and push the right buttons as the series shifted back to Los Angeles. 

Instead, he pushed Snell too far, and it may have cost him the series.

Six years ago, in the 2020 World Series, Blake Snell was an opponent of the Dodgers and Roberts, and he had been dealing, as his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, protected a 1-0 lead in Game 6.

Despite Snell's strong performance, Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to go to his bullpen in the sixth inning. It ended up hurting Tampa Bay, as the Dodgers capitalized on the pitching change and scored multiple runs to win Game 6 and secure their first World Series title under Roberts.

Cash's decision was met with frustration by Snell, and the call was viewed as controversial. Perhaps in Wednesday's Game 3, Roberts remembered that moment, and now that Snell was on the mound for him, he decided to let the left-hander keep going.

In the end, Snell, Roberts and the rest of the team paid for that decision. Who knows, maybe Los Angeles' bullpen would have struggled too. Perhaps Bauers and Mitchell end up going deep anyway, and the Brewers win regardless.

Nevertheless, two decisions were made regarding Snell six years apart in high-leverage moments, and both had bad outcomes. Now, the Dodgers are at risk of getting swept in their house on Thursday. 

Hopes for a third straight World Series title are on life support. Whether Los Angeles gets swept or loses the series, Roberts' decision to leave Snell in Game 3 may be seen as a turning point.