Following the Dodgers’ win against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series on Wednesday night, Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, was asked about his preference for the upcoming NL Championship Series.
Would it be the Brewers or the Padres?
He grinned and simply stated, “I just want chaos.”
However, that wish was, well, not granted.
Just hours after the Dodgers secured their spot in the NLCS, the Brewers did the same by winning Game 4 against the San Diego Padres, thus avoiding a Game 5, which would have put both teams’ pitchers at risk of fatigue.
The upcoming NLCS will see the Dodgers face the Brewers—an all too familiar situation, as this matchup echoes last year’s series, where the Dodgers clinched the pennant with a sweep.
The narrative remains: The Brewers are on a mission to take down the defending champions and to overcome a significant payroll gap of nearly $300 million. They aim to transform their impressive regular-season performance (103 wins, leading the majors for the second year in a row) into postseason success.
As expected, the Dodgers enter the series as favorites.
They’re aiming for a historic third consecutive World Series title.
Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday in Milwaukee at American Family Field.
Now, let’s break down how these two teams stack up as they prepare for the seven-game series:
At the plate
Getting on base
The Dodgers generated much of their offense in the NLDS with home runs, but they also consistently pressured the Braves’ pitchers. They were active at the plate, elevating pitch counts and creating scoring chances, even if their 1-for-16 record with runners in scoring position leaves something to be desired.
That’s just how postseason baseball rolls—after all, the Braves themselves managed just 1-for-23 in those situations against the Dodgers.
The silver lining for the Dodgers? Most of their regulars, aside from Shohei Ohtani (2-for-13) and Will Smith (1-for-16), had standout moments in the opening round of playoffs. After a slow stretch in the latter part of the season, many key hitters seem to have regained a solid approach and swing.
The Brewers, however, also excel at grinding out at-bats and putting pressure on opposing pitchers to create offense.
During the regular season, Milwaukee led the majors in team batting average at .258 (barely ahead of the Dodgers), had a .341 on-base percentage (3 points better), and a walk rate of 10.6%, just edging out the Dodgers and trailing only the Cubs in total runs scored.
While Jackson Chourio stands out as their star hitter (batting .291 and delivering a memorable walk-off single in Game 2 of the NLDS), the Brewers boast a lineup filled with tough outs behind him.
Edge: Brewers
Power
Concerns about the Dodgers lacking power during the second half of the season now seem a bit misplaced.
In the NLDS, they displayed a power resurgence reminiscent of their early-season form, hitting 118 home runs, the most in the NL before dropping to 86 afterwards.
The eight home runs they crushed against the Braves gives them the highest total among playoff teams so far. Highlights included three big hits from Max Muncy (the team’s all-time postseason home run leader) and two from Freddie Freeman, who had only hit one in his final 66 regular-season games. Other contributors included Teoscar Hernández, Kiké Hernández, and Kyle Tucker, each with a homer.
Even though Ohtani is still struggling, the Dodgers made it clear they still have plenty of firepower.
In contrast, the Brewers have one of the smallest home run totals in the majors, ranking second-fewest in the regular season. Jake Bauers led with 26 home runs, while Chourio added 25, Brice Turang had 21, and William Contreras hit 18—with no one else even nearing those numbers.
This lack of power contributed to their struggles last year in the NLCS, where they managed only one home run while being silenced by the Dodgers’ strong pitching staff.
Whether or not they can find more consistent power against the Dodgers this time around could be pivotal.
Edge: Dodgers
On the mound
Rotation
The Brewers’ rotation is anchored by Jacob Misiorowski, a likely Cy Young Award recipient. He has been impressive with a 16-5 record, a 1.80 ERA, and an MLB-leading 252 strikeouts during the regular season.
However, the rest of the rotation presents more uncertainties.
Rookie Logan Henderson stands as their next best option with an 11-3 record and a 2.47 ERA. Meanwhile, former Dodger Dustin May, who was traded midseason, has struggled with an ERA of 5.65 in ten starts for Milwaukee. Robert Gasser is their only other healthy starter with an ERA under 4.00.
It’s worth noting Misiorowski didn’t dominate in Game 1 of the NLDS, requiring 88 pitches to get through four innings while allowing two runs and four hits.
In contrast, the Dodgers feature what many consider the best rotation in baseball.
Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto both delivered outstanding performances in the NLDS, pitching well and allowing only a couple of runs collectively. Even though Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow faced command issues, they still contributed significantly to the team’s success.
Edge: Dodgers
Bullpen
The Dodgers are optimistic about their bullpen, which allowed just four runs over 14⅔ innings during the NLDS against the Braves.
They may have identified a reliable closer in Edwin Díaz, who finished both Games 3 and 4. Tanner Scott also bounced back impressively after allowing a home run in Game 1. Other key options like Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Edgardo Henriquez, and Brock Stewart have all established themselves as solid contributors.
While they may not quite match the strength of the bullpen that led them to their 2024 World Series victory, they still show promise.
Conversely, the Brewers showcased a dominant bullpen this year, boasting a 3.40 reliever ERA, the best in the NL. They maintained that excellence during their NLDS success against the Padres.
Closer Trevor Megill was successful in 30 of 33 save opportunities and recorded a 2.63 ERA. Setup man Abner Uribe excelled as well, finishing the regular season with a 1.97 ERA. The Brewers have matchup solutions with left-handers and capable right-handed options.
Edge: Brewers
In the field
Defense
Defensive prowess is a hallmark of the Brewers’ consistency over the years, and this season has been no exception.
The Brewers ranked high across various defensive metrics, outdoing the Dodgers in all but fielding percentage. They have standout defenders at critical positions, with Chourio, Mitchell, and Turang shining in the outfield and infield.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers, defensive errors cost them in several games during their NLDS series, including a pivotal misplay in Game 2.
Edge: Brewers
Base-running
It’s no surprise that the Brewers excel in base-running as well.
With 162 stolen bases—ranking fifth in the majors—they also had a decent success rate, though it was just below league average. David Hamilton led the pack with 30 successful steals.
On the other hand, the Dodgers struggled, with no player even coming close to matching Hamilton’s numbers.
Edge: Brewers
Manager
Pat Murphy, the two-time reigning NL Manager of the Year, has guided the Brewers to significant success with a limited budget. Possessing an impressive track record, he could be in line for a third consecutive title.
Yet, when it comes to playoff management, Dave Roberts of the Dodgers has been particularly adept in recent years. He just passed Tony La Russa for second-most career postseason wins in history, with only Joe Torre ahead of him.
Edge: Dodgers
Intangibles
The Brewers consistently maximize the potential of their roster, while the Dodgers possess extensive postseason experience and mental toughness. They showcased their ability to handle pressure during the NLDS, grinding out three close games. This trait was evident last season as well, when the Dodgers managed to prevail in crucial moments during their previous matchup against the Brewers, completing a rare NLCS sweep.
Edge: Dodgers
