Dodgers Face Brewers in NLCS Rematch Amid Pitching Strength and Batting Concerns

Key points

• The Dodgers eliminated the Braves in four games, securing three days of rest before the NLCS, a significant advantage for their aging position players.
• Los Angeles will start ace Tarik Skubal in Game 1 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2, aiming to use both in four starts across the series.
• The Brewers, who posted the best record in baseball this season, will counter with presumptive Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1.
• The Dodgers scored all their runs on home runs in the first three games of the NLDS, highlighting a lack of consistency in driving in runners.
• Shohei Ohtani struggled offensively in the NLDS, hitting two singles in 13 at-bats and not hitting a home run since August 18.

Background

The 2026 MLB postseason has narrowed to a Dodgers-Brewers NLCS, set to begin on October 11. This is a rematch of the 2025 NLCS, which the Dodgers swept. The Brewers have not reached the World Series since 1982, while the Dodgers are chasing a three-peat championship. The Braves, despite a 94-win regular season, were eliminated by the Dodgers in the divisional round.

How outlets are covering it

The Los Angeles Times provides a balanced view, highlighting four positive signs (rest, pitching, depth, Tucker's resurgence) and four warning signs (inconsistent hitting, Misiorowski, Ohtani's struggles, top-of-order inconsistency). FanGraphs confirms the series matchup but offers limited analysis due to technical issues. ESPN's source was inaccessible. The primary source emphasizes the Dodgers' pitching dominance and the Braves' offensive struggles (18 hits in four games), while noting the Dodgers' reliance on home runs. The archive confirms the series start date and the rematch nature of the contest.

Why it matters

The NLCS determines which National League team advances to the World Series. The Dodgers' potential three-peat would be a historic achievement, while the Brewers' opportunity to reach the World Series for the first time since 1982 adds significant stakes. The series will test the Dodgers' pitching depth against the Brewers' strong regular-season record and pitching.

What to watch

The NLCS begins on October 11. The Dodgers will start Tarik Skubal, while the Brewers will start Jacob Misiorowski. The series is best-of-seven, with the winner advancing to the World Series to face the American League champion.