NLCS Preview: Dodgers Brewers Face Off in 2018 NLCS Rematch

MILWAUKEE, WI—The stage is set: the Los Angeles Dodgers will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series with the winner claiming a spot in the 2025 World Series. 

It’s a rematch of the 2018 NLCS, which featured the No. 1-seeded Brewers against the Dodgers, where Los Angeles came out on top in Game Seven, punching their ticket to a second straight Fall Classic.

Now fast-forward to 2025, and it’s a similar scenario as the Brewers, the No.1 seed of the National League after winning 97 games this season, will host the Dodgers, who are looking to clinch their second consecutive World Series berth.

It is a battle of two National League titans who each got here in different ways.

While the Dodgers draft and develop well, they also have a massive advantage with their payroll, which ranked first in all of Major League Baseball this season. This earned them 93 wins and their 12th National League West title in thirteen seasons.

As for the Brewers, they steamrolled through the regular season, winning the National League Central yet again over the Chicago Cubs, the same team they just defeated in the NLDS. Remarkably, they did this with the 22nd-highest payroll in the sport.

The Dodgers’ plan is simple: if they want to secure another National League Pennant, they’ll need to revert to their offensive habits, which ranked first in the National League in wRC+ (113) and fifth overall in fWAR (28.2)

While the Dodgers relied on star power both on the roster and in the batter’s box, the Brewers took a different approach this season.

They reached base consistently, ranking third in batting average (.258) and fourth in walks. They swung at quality pitches, had the fifth-fewest strikeouts, and chased out of the zone at the lowest rate in MLB. They made contact frequently, with the majors’ third-lowest whiff rate, and applied pressure on defenses, ranking second in stolen bases. Additionally, they had the second-best batting average with runners in scoring position.

Their team was only 22nd in home runs and 12th in slugging percentage. Additionally, just 33% of their runs scored came from home runs, the third-lowest in MLB.

Instead, they assembled a lineup filled with reliable outs and hitters who stuck closely to the team-wide strategy. They established a clear identity and leveraged it to achieve the most successful season in their franchise’s history, finishing 97-65.

This approach was initiated by old-school manager Pat Murphy, who joined the Brewers in 2016 as bench coach under Craig Counsell. When Counsell departed two years ago for the Cubs, the team Milwaukee defeated in the NLDS, Murphy was promoted to the head position.

Now, he’s recognized for his vibrant personality and his hands-on role in shaping Milwaukee’s baseball style, along with more playful habits.

That style of play did wonders against the Dodgers this season, as the Brew Crew defeated Los Angeles in all six of their meetings earlier in the summer. It was one of the few teams that handed it to the Dodgers while they were in a funk.

Still, if you want to judge postseason success by regular-season success, ask Phillies fans how that turned out.

Both teams have much to play for in this series.

The Dodgers are looking to create a legacy by not only returning to the World Series but also winning it.

The Brewers are playing for their first World Series Championship, and the late Bob Uecker, who passed away during the offseason, is remembered. 

And while many media pundits may have the Dodgers easily walking away with the series, I disagree and could see this one going the distance.

Game One: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game Two: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game Three: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game Four: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

*Game Five: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

*Game Six: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

*Game Seven: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

*if necessary

Game Times

Game One: Monday, October 13th, 5:08 PM PT, American Family Field (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

Game Two: Tuesday, October 14th, 5:08 PM PT, American Family Field (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

Game Three: Thursday, October 16th, TBD, Dodger Stadium (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

Game Four: Friday, October 17th, TBD, Dodger Stadium (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

*Game Five: Saturday, October 18th, TBD, Dodger Stadium (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

*Game Six: Monday, October 20th, TBD, American Family Field (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

*Game Seven: Tuesday, October 21st, TBD, American Family Field (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

*if necessary

Who’s in & Who’s Out?

One name that won’t be on the Dodgers’ 26-man roster for the NLCS is left-handed relief pitcher Tanner Scott, as he was removed from the NLDS roster due to injury and is ineligible until the World Series.

Scott had yet to appear in a postseason game during the Wild Card Series or the NLDS and was removed after Game Three on Wednesday after having a lower-body abscess procedure done.

The left-hander could rejoin the team in the World Series should Los Angeles move on, per Dave Roberts, but that remains to be seen.

Kiké is considered day-to-day after tweaking something in his knee during his final at-bat during Game Four of the NLDS on Thursday, but with the days off, Dave Roberts expects him to be fine.

Tommy Edman is also still dealing with lingering ankle soreness after tweaking it in May and reinjuring it in August, which landed him on the 10-day injured list for over a month.

Edman confirmed it’ll be something he and the team have to monitor and will likely limit him to just secondary base for the remainder of the season.

All-Star catcher Will Smith also appears to be good to go for the remainder of October after suffering a right-hand fracture in early September.

Smith appeared in all four games of the NLDS, with the last two being back-to-back starts, and should he remain healthy, he’ll revert back to the Dodgers’ everyday backstop.

Day-to-day (2): Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández

10-day Injured List (00):

15-day Injured List (1): Brock Stewart

60-day Injured List (7): Tony Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Evan Phillips

Entering the NLCS, the Brewers are as healthy as they can be at this time of the season, but there are a few key players to watch.

Most notable is young outfielder Jackson Chourio, who appeared to injure himself in Game One of the NLDS against the Cubs last Saturday. After the game, it was confirmed that he aggravated his hamstring, but the extent of the damage was never revealed.

Regardless, Chourio still played in all five games of the series, but it’ll be something to watch moving forward.

Left off the NLDS roster was right-handed pitcher Barndon Woodruff, as the veteran arm was placed on the 15-day injured list before the end of the regular season due to a right lat strain.

While Woodruff was ruled out for the NLDS, the right-hander could return to the Brewers’ pitching staff for the NLCS or World Series should the Brewers advance past that point, as testing did confirm a lat strain but showed his surgically repaired right shoulder was intact.

Another arm left off the Brewers’ NLDS roster was right-handed pitcher Logan Henderson, who suffered a right flexor strain in early August. While the righty threw a bullpen session on September 23rd in Arizona and felt good, he was left off the NLDS roster, and a late October return is possible but unlikely.

Day-to-day (1): Jackson Chourio

10-day Injured List (00):

15-day Injured List (1): Brandon Woodruff

60-day Injured List (5): Jordan Montgomery, Garrett Mitchell, Connor Thomas, Logan Henderson, Shelby Miller

Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!