Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers: NLCS Preview
It's a rematch of last year's NLCS. The Dodgers are pursuing a three-peat, while Milwaukee is searching for its first World Series appearance since 1982.
For the third time since 2018, the National League representative will be either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Milwaukee Brewers.
The reigning two-time World Series champions have won the first two matchups in that stretch. Last year, it wasn’t overly competitive — a sweep — but the 2018 matchup went the distance. For the Brewers, the NL’s top team by three wins this season, they’ve got the benefit of hosting this series. They’ve also got the benefit of two, maybe three, starts from the likely Cy Young winner in a seven-game series.
These two teams have already had seven matchups this season, with the Brewers winning the season series four games to three. The Dodgers won two of the three games played in Milwaukee, while the Brewers won three of four at Chavez Ravine. The first matchup took place in May, the second in August.
The main difference between these two teams offensively is the slug. Milwaukee had a higher batting average by one point and on-base percentage by three. However, the Dodgers hit 50 more home runs, en route to a 21-point advantage in slugging percentage.
These two teams have a myriad of ways of beating you, but the backbone of both rosters is the pitching. These two teams had the top two staff ERAs in the National League. They were also two of the top three in fWAR, two of the top three in strikeouts per nine innings, and both ranked in the top six in fewest home runs allowed.
This series promises to be a bit more entertaining than last year’s matchup. Let’s take a look at how they stack up going into this best-of-seven.
Starting Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Tarik Skubal vs. TBD
This is why the Dodgers went out and got Skubal: to set the tone in a playoff series. And boy, did he do that in Game 1 against the Braves.
Last series, he went six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts. The only run he allowed came on a home run by Braves catcher Sean Murphy.
The Brewers need to keep themselves within a run or two against Skubal because it doesn’t get any easier behind him. They’ll learn firsthand, in a best-of-seven, why people call the Dodgers a superteam — a juggernaut. But the Brewers have the arms to keep up; it’s just a matter of executing in the end.
While it has not yet been formally announced, Jacob Misiorowski will likely oppose Skubal on Sunday for Milwaukee. This is lining up to be the premier pitching matchup, getting the series started on a high note.
Game 2: Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. TBD
Yamamoto going in Game 2 just exaggerates the need for the Brewers to win Game 1. This is where the Dodgers can put the screws to Milwaukee before going home.
n 11 career postseason outings, Yamamoto has a 2.14 ERA and 58 strikeouts across 63 innings of work. He’s also 8-1 in his postseason career. While pitcher win-loss record has become an obsolete measure of a pitcher’s skill, the point is that the Dodgers win when he takes the ball.
Nothing is guaranteed in MLB, but the fact of the matter remains that the Brewers are under immense pressure to do no worse than split these first two games.
Again, in typical Brewers fashion, no starter has been formally announced, but it is lining up to be rookie Logan Henderson. Henderson went five innings of two-run ball (one earned) against the Padres, continuing his success from the regular season, when he posted a sub-2.50 ERA.
Game 3: TBD vs. TBD
The series switches over to the West Coast following Game 2. The Dodgers tied with the Padres for the third-best home record in the NL this year at 51-30. On the flip side, the Brewers had the second-best road record.
This matchup, even though lopsided in last year’s postseason, is much more even in 2026. Beyond the emergence of ace right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, their offensive unit has been much improved from a season ago.
That said, the Dodgers will likely throw Snell or Glasnow in this one, with the Brewers countering with either a bullpen game or Robert Gasser. The latter pitched admirably in the series clincher against the Padres, but he’s nowhere near the pedigree of his two potential opponents. So, the onus falls on the Brewers’ lineup to set the tone early.
Game 4: TBD vs. TBD
The final game we’re guaranteed in this series should heavily favor the Dodgers, even if the Brewers go back to Misiorowski on short rest. As a byproduct of having such a deep rotation, they’ve got the luxury of throwing an All-Star with a chance to put the series to bed.
On the flip side, if they’re facing a potential 3-1 deficit or a sweep, they can turn back to Skubal with a chance to get things back on track.
Games 5-7 (If Necessary)
Should the series go beyond four games, two of the remaining three potential games would be back in Milwaukee. Should it go that long, it’s tough to say who’d have the advantage.
On one hand, the Dodgers have the horses to hold it down through the finish line. On the other, the Brewers tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the best home record in the majors.
One would think we’d get at least one, maybe two, more outings from Yamamoto and Misiorowski should this series go the distance. That could be fascinating as these talented lineups get more and more looks at these superstar arms. The more a hitter sees a pitcher, the “easier” it is to get a read on them — maybe a tell on how they sequence or if they tip any pitches.
As mentioned, this is the third best-of-seven between these two organizations since 2018. We’ve seen a seven-gamer and a sweep. Only time will tell how this will turn out.
Key Storylines to Watch: Los Angeles Dodgers
What Shohei Ohtani Will We Get?
Injuries helped derail the 2026 season for the Dodgers superstar. However, it’s become especially apparent this postseason. Already not pitching, Ohtani is 2-for-13 with four strikeouts and zero runs batted in. He doesn’t even have an extra-base hit. He’s walked twice, but has hardly been a factor at all beyond his sheer existence in the lineup.
The Brewers aren’t going to make life easy for him, though. Through the team’s first series, they allowed just seven earned runs in 35 innings of work. Moreover, they allowed just 23 hits.
For the Dodgers to have a chance at three-peating, they’ll need their designated hitter to have a big NLCS.
Can the Arms Command it Better?
Skubal and Yamamoto were on their game in the NLDS against Atlanta. However, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow each failed to make it through five innings. They did manage to walk five Braves, though, which did a number on their respective pitch counts.
The Dodgers have one of the deepest staffs in the league, especially among the remaining teams in the postseason. Even if they’ve got to use a lot of arms, they’re more than capable of getting the job done. That said, relying on several relievers to carry you to victory against a team like Milwaukee — one that’ll wear you out — is not a recipe for success.
They don’t have to go out and pitch six or seven shutout frames, but they’ve got to avoid steady traffic. The Brewers tied with the Chicago Cubs for the highest walk rate among batters this season, so they’ll let you walk them if you don’t throw strikes. Staying in the zone, or at least around it, is paramount to the Dodgers’ success.
Key Storylines to Watch: Milwaukee Brewers
Where’s the Offense Going to Come From?
A few Brewers chipped in with big contributions in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. That said, the most RBIs came from star outfielder Jackson Chourio.
The run production is always a bonus, but it’s also worth noting Chourio was just 3-for-16. The playoffs are a string of moments, less about the overall raw data. Despite just three hits in the NLDS, one could argue Chourio was the team’s MVP, with a game-tying homer in Game 1 and the walk-off single in Game 2.
But you can’t always bank on those couple of hits coming with runners in scoring position. So, if it’s not Chourio, who will be driving in runs for the Brewers?
Catcher William Contreras hit two homers, while Christian Yelich and Jake Bauers each reached base seven times. However, can they keep it up? Moreover, is there anybody beyond those four who has a big hit in them? Namely, All-Star second baseman Brice Turang, who went 2-for-16 against the Padres.
Can Misiorowski Provide Any Length?
The likely NL Cy Young winner went just four innings in his 2026 postseason debut. He allowed two runs but still struck out six.
He threw nearly 30 pitches in the first inning, really setting back any chance of him going deep into the game. The Brewers may have had the third-best bullpen in MLB by earned run average, but they can lean on that strength when somebody else pitches.
The Brewers will need two, maybe even three starts out of Misiorowski to dispatch the Dodgers in this series. They’ll have a hard time getting deep into games later in the series if he’s unable to provide length in either Game 1 or Game 2, depending on when he starts. We all know the velocity is electric, and he’ll certainly come out guns blazing, as he always does. But can he harness that velocity, hammer the strike zone, and still miss bats? Time will tell.
The Dodgers have a loaded lineup, even if Ohtani is struggling. Nobody wants to be the one to get him going again because he can carry that lineup for weeks. The Brewers’ fate hinges on keeping him at bay, and Misiorowski is at the forefront of that responsibility.
Prediction
The Brewers are a great team, and they’ve certainly done a lot to garner more respect this season than they had last year. However, the Dodgers are still the class of the league for a reason.
Had the Dodgers not gone out and gotten Skubal, the Brewers would have the best arm in this series. That might still be true, but the gap is fairly negligible with Skubal as his counterpart.
At the end of the day, the playoffs are often won by role players. Not to say the Dodgers don’t have “role players,” but they’ve got the luxury of having stars serving in those roles.
The talent gap may not have played out over 162 games, but it will in a best-of-seven.
Dodgers in 6.
Become a Member of Just Baseball
Subscribe and upgrade to go ad-free!
* Save 25% by subscribing annually.
Written by