The Los Angeles Dodgers have surged to the brink of yet another World Series appearance, riding a wave of dominant pitching, clutch hitting, and a few historic moments in their National League Championship Series (NLCS) matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers. With three straight wins over Milwaukee, including a decisive 3-1 victory at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers now stand just one win away from returning to baseball’s grandest stage and potentially becoming the first defending champion to reach the World Series in sixteen years.
It’s been a postseason of contrasts. For the Dodgers, who didn’t always sparkle during the regular season, October has brought out their best. Their postseason record now sits at a sparkling 8-1, and their pitching staff, led by the likes of Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, has delivered a collective 1.54 ERA in October. The bullpen, a topic of much debate among fans and analysts, has featured arms like Blake Treinen, Anthony Banda, Roki Sasaki, and Alex Vesia, with manager Dave Roberts making the most of his options. The possible return of lefty Tanner Scott, who last pitched on September 27 and finished the regular season with a 1-4 record and a 4.74 ERA, adds intrigue as the Dodgers look to shore up their relief corps for the World Series. "We need all available weapons to face our next opponent," said Roberts, echoing the urgency felt across the clubhouse.
Offensively, the Dodgers have leaned on their stars to set the tone. In Game 3, Shohei Ohtani led off the bottom of the first with a triple off Brewers starter Aaron Ashby, followed immediately by a Mookie Betts double that put LA ahead 1-0. Though Ohtani’s October has been uncharacteristically up-and-down—he’s struck out 17 times in 38 at-bats, batting just .158—his presence in the lineup continues to loom large. He started the postseason with a bang, belting two home runs in the Wild Card Series, but has since cooled, going 3-for-29 with 14 strikeouts in the last two series against the Brewers and Phillies. Yet, even as his bat cools, Ohtani’s ability to draw intentional walks and pressure pitchers keeps him a focal point for opposing managers. “We got to keep going and just keep applying pressure,” Betts remarked, channeling the team’s relentless mindset.
The Brewers, meanwhile, have found themselves stymied at every turn. Despite sweeping the Dodgers 6-0 in the regular season, Milwaukee’s offense has sputtered in the NLCS, posting hit totals of just 2, 3, and 4 across the first three games. They’ve managed only three runs and nine hits in the series, and their postseason road woes have extended to ten straight losses dating back to 2018. Still, the Brewers have shown flashes of fight. In Game 3, third baseman Caleb Durbin tripled in the second inning and scored on a Jake Bauers single, briefly tying the game at 1-1. The tie held until the sixth, when Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman—last year’s NLCS MVP—looped a single to center to score Will Smith, pushing LA ahead. Freeman’s advance to third and subsequent run on an error by Brewers reliever Abner Uribe’s pickoff attempt sealed the 3-1 win.
“We’re just excited,” Edman said after the game. “We didn’t play great during the regular season, and we’re getting hot at the right time.” That late-season surge has been the difference for the Dodgers, who are now on the verge of a rare NLCS sweep. No team has managed to sweep the NLCS in the Dodgers’ previous 12 attempts, but with the Brewers’ backs against the wall, LA’s confidence is palpable. “You got to treat it like it’s a do-or-die game,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “You can’t look ahead, and I think that’s something a lot of teams struggle with.”
Yet, the series hasn’t been without its oddities and moments of history. Brewers rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, whose place on the NLDS roster was questioned after a rough second half (posting a 5.36 ERA and allowing a .354 on-base percentage), has emerged as one of the postseason’s most compelling stories. Thrust into key bulk innings in Games 2 and 5 of the NLDS against the Cubs, Misiorowski’s fastball touched 104 mph, and his once-erratic slider found new life with improved control—especially against left-handed hitters. In October, lefties have managed just a .067 slugging percentage against him, down from .571 in September. “He’s finding the zone consistently with his slider/cutter, and one very interesting thing pops out from a stuff perspective,” one analyst wrote, marveling at the rookie’s transformation.
Misiorowski’s postseason heroics reached new heights in the NLCS, where he delivered a relief appearance for the ages: nine strikeouts over 19 batters faced, setting the record for most strikeouts by a rookie relief pitcher in postseason history, and the most by any reliever in a postseason game in the 2000s. His evolution from a wild card to a weapon has been a revelation for the Brewers, even as the team faces elimination. "His calmness, poise, and competitive instincts have shown huge strides," noted a Brewers beat writer. Still, questions remain about whether Misiorowski can maintain this level of velocity and effectiveness over a full regular season. The adrenaline of October has clearly elevated his game, but sustainability will be the challenge heading into 2026.
The Dodgers, for their part, are making strategic preparations for the World Series, with roster debates swirling around bullpen depth and the possible inclusion of Emmet Sheehan, who struggled in the NLDS. Key players like Freddie Freeman at first base and Mookie Betts at shortstop anchor a lineup that can strike quickly and capitalize on opponents’ mistakes. The presence of Ohtani as a two-way player adds a dimension few teams can match, and with the starting rotation clicking, LA’s confidence is sky-high. “We got to keep in mind we’re five wins away from what we really want,” Betts emphasized, keeping the team’s focus razor-sharp.
For Brewers fans, the future is still bright. Misiorowski’s breakout, the resilience shown in the NLDS, and flashes of offensive capability suggest that Milwaukee will be a force to reckon with in seasons to come. But for now, all eyes are on Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, where the Brewers will fight to avoid a sweep and the Dodgers will look to punch their ticket to another World Series.
With the stakes higher than ever and history within reach, both teams know there’s no room for error. The Dodgers are five wins away from repeating as champions—a feat not achieved since the Yankees’ run from 1998 to 2000. The Brewers, meanwhile, are desperate to flip the script and keep their season alive. The next chapter of this October drama is about to unfold, and baseball fans everywhere will be watching.
