The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers, widely considered baseball's two best teams, are set to begin a significant four-game series on Thursday. The matchup features two clubs that have recently experienced offensive droughts.
The Dodgers are coming off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals, following a series loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite a strong start to the season, Los Angeles has ranked 20th in weighted runs created plus (wRC+) in August. A key concern for the Dodgers is the status of Freddie Freeman, who is day-to-day after a dugout tumble. The team will rely on the offensive production of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Kyle Tucker.
Milwaukee also enters the series having lost four of their last six games, including a sweep by the San Diego Padres. The Brewers managed only seven runs in their series against the Padres and have struggled at the plate throughout August, hitting .212/.314/.335 as a team. Milwaukee ranks last in MLB with 111 home runs this season, relying more on plate discipline, contact, and situational hitting.
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to start for Los Angeles. Sasaki has shown recent improvement, with a 2.40 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in his last five starts. His primary vulnerability has been home runs, though Milwaukee's limited power may mitigate this. In a previous start against the Brewers on May 23, Sasaki pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks. Concerns remain about Sasaki's first-pitch command against a Milwaukee team adept at working counts.
For the Brewers, rookie left-hander Shane Drohan is slated to start. Drohan has posted serviceable numbers on the road, with his 3.52 xERA suggesting potential for positive regression. Despite Milwaukee's struggles, they have historically performed well against right-handed pitching, though they strike out at the fourth-highest rate against them this year and are batting .212 this month.
DraftKings reports that 69 percent of moneyline bets favor the Dodgers. The series is seen as a crucial juncture for both teams, with the Brewers looking to rebound against their toughest competition. The betting consensus leans toward an under 8 runs for the series opener.