Brewers Eyeing Redemption Against Dodgers in NLCS Rematch

The Milwaukee Brewers face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a National League Championship Series rematch, with rival scouts indicating the Brewers are better equipped to challenge the Dodgers than they were in last year's sweep. Despite the Dodgers entering the series as favorites, scouts point to several key factors that could lead to a different outcome.

Last October, the Dodgers dominated the Brewers in the NLCS, outscoring them 15-4 in runs and sweeping the series with a decisive offensive and pitching advantage. The Brewers had the National League's best regular-season record but were "utterly embarrassed" by the Dodgers, according to one scout. This year, the Brewers, again the higher-seeded team with home-field advantage, aim for redemption.

Key Differences This Year

A significant change for the Brewers is the emergence of 24-year-old pitcher Jacob Misiorowski. While he appeared in relief during last year's NLCS, he is now considered a presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner and is expected to start Game 1. His elite pitching, featuring a 105 mph fastball, presents a formidable challenge. However, scouts note the Dodgers' ability to grind out at-bats and wear down top pitchers, citing their strategy of driving up pitch counts and pouncing on mistakes. The Dodgers employed a similar tactic against pitcher Chris Sale in the NL Division Series.

"They're gonna step into that box and just say, 'We probably aren't going to beat this guy, but we just need to get him out of the ballgame as early as possible,'" one scout said of the Dodgers' approach to Misiorowski. The scout added that the Brewers' lineup, while similar to last year's, is notably improved. Jackson Chourio has developed into a star, Brice Turang and William Contreras are more experienced, and players like Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell have become reliable contributors. Even Christian Yelich has shown signs of renewed form.

This evolution has led one scout to compare the current Brewers to a younger version of the Dodgers themselves, highlighting their ability to grind out at-bats and make games difficult for opponents. The Brewers led MLB in batting average (.258), on-base percentage (.341), and walk rate (10.6%) this season, and scored the second-most runs despite hitting the second-fewest home runs.

"To beat a team like the Dodgers, I think they're going to have to work counts, [make] no easy outs," a scout stated. "You might still not get a run off of Skubal, but if you can get him out of the game in the sixth inning, and you get to the bullpen, you're in a tight game."

The Shohei Ohtani Factor

Another crucial difference in this year's series is the state of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Unlike last year, he will not pitch due to ongoing right arm and left knee injuries. More significantly, his offensive production has slumped; he has not hit a home run since August 18 and had a quiet performance in the NLDS. While other Dodgers stars like Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman have stepped up, Ohtani's diminished effectiveness is a concern.

"If you don't have your legs, then you look like he looks," one scout commented on Ohtani's current condition. "He can't get his legs under him. He just doesn't look healthy to me."

Scouts believe the Brewers' pitching staff, which also features Logan Henderson and a strong bullpen, is well-positioned to counter the Dodgers' offense, which has relied heavily on home runs. The Brewers' ability to manufacture runs and make pitchers work could be the key to winning what is expected to be a series of close, low-scoring games. Two scouts suggested that if the Brewers can win one of the first two games at home, they have a strong chance to win the series, potentially in six games.