The way in which the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the Milwaukee Brewers—who held home-field advantage in last year’s NLCS—is probably one of the primary factors behind this air of invincibility that they have carried ever since going back-to-back. While we could split hairs about the Dodgers’ offensive production in that series, averaging under four runs per game, they did pitch with such mastery that the series felt well in hand from the start.
One specific aspect of that series felt as though it
led to being more closely watched than others. That NLCS provided the public with a rare opportunity of a matchup with a division of strengths that didn’t match the regular-season result. The David versus Goliath narrative was played up, and everyone waited to see if, with home-field advantage, the Brewers could rise to the challenge as they did through 162. The way in which that series unfolded served to justify numerous preconceived notions.
As the Dodgers welcome the Brewers into town for a weekend set, Milwaukee once again finds itself leading the NL Central, while possessing a better record than the Dodgers. And for all we know, these two teams could meet for the second time in a row in the NLCS, although the Braves and other NL playoff contenders might have something to say about that.
While other clubs that gave the Dodgers far bigger issues in last year’s postseason haven’t matched their production this season—Toronto is out of playoff contention and the Phillies are settling for a likely Wild Card spot—the Brewers are firing on all cylinders. The Freddy Peralta trade during the offseason hasn’t slowed them down one bit.
Because of the continued success of the Brewers current approach, it’d be relatively easy to create the expectation that since the Dodgers easily handled this type of team last season, they might do the same this year. While that could happen as Milwaukee still often relies on the sum of its parts over individual dominance, there have been noticeable changes in this team.
Few players in all of baseball have experienced a jump in production quite as high as Jacob Misiorowski, whose Cy Young case is by far the strongest in the NL. Misiorowski is the type of pitcher whose raw ability pops the first time you see him, something that landed him in the All-Star Game last year even though production alone probably didn’t warrant it. Still finding his footing in that first year, Misiorowski has developed into a level of ace that the Brewers haven’t had since Corbin Burnes’ Cy Young season. Peralta left the team, and yet the rotation is stronger, not only for all that Freddy hasn’t done this season but also for what other young pieces have been accomplishing.
Out for a significant period with a back strain, youngster Logan Henderson, who the Dodgers will see in the series finale on Sunday, has been superb when available. You also have a player who is an example of what makes the Brewers organization stand out in Kyle Harrison. Not one, but two teams acquired Harrison for his raw talent and couldn’t figure out a way to develop him; that’s until the Red Sox shipped him off to Milwaukee for Caleb Durbin and pieces, only to see him flourish into one of the more exciting young starters in the NL. A pitcher with a 22.9 K% before this season, Harrison has a 29.7 mark in 2026. More volatile than Henderson, Harrison is yet another starter who can take over a game when things go his way.
The focus on the pitching side for Milwaukee is only natural. If we project a matchup between these two clubs, it’s easier to imagine the Brewers’ staff occasionally dominating a Dodgers offense than to see the Brewers offense overcoming adversity against this staff of aces—particularly after the deadline delivered reinforcements with the addition of Tarik Skubal and the return of Blake Snell with Tyler Glasnow not far off.
Postseason baseball is always unpredictable, and that’s a point to reinforce more and more with the Dodgers coming off back-to-back titles. Even going beyond that, a cold, hard look at Milwaukee’s staff shows it possesses the high-end quality to ask major questions out of this Dodgers lineup, something to keep an eye on for the postseason.
