Dodgers' Path to NLCS Glory: Key Advantages and Looming Threats Against Brewers

The Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to a third consecutive National League Championship Series on Wednesday, dispatching the Atlanta Braves in four games in the NL Division Series. Their next challenge: a rematch with the Milwaukee Brewers, the team they swept in last year's NLCS.

In 2025, the Dodgers made quick work of a Brewers squad that owned baseball's best regular-season record. Now, in 2026, Milwaukee once again sits atop the MLB standings, with Los Angeles close behind at No. 2. Despite the familiar faces on both sides, this series promises to be a different beast entirely.

Milwaukee has improved, and so have the Dodgers. But the road ahead for Los Angeles is undeniably tougher. Here's a breakdown of the Dodgers' biggest edges and the concerns that could derail them.

Advantages

Starting Rotation

The Dodgers' rotation is elite from top to bottom. Their top four—Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow—are as formidable as any in baseball. Yamamoto might be the best of the group, yet he started Game 3 and was dominant in October. Skubal was equally impressive in Game 1. Snell struggled in his only start, while Glasnow wasn't at his sharpest but kept the offense within striking distance.

Postseason Experience

This advantage is less tangible but no less real. The Dodgers' core has logged countless postseason games, entering their third straight NLCS and chasing a third consecutive World Series title. Milwaukee is also making its second straight NLCS appearance, but the Brewers lack the same October pedigree. Los Angeles has players who have navigated virtually every playoff scenario, and in a series that could hinge on a one-run game, bullpen decisions, and high-stakes at-bats, that edge favors the Dodgers.

Lineup Depth

Even when their stars aren't producing, the Dodgers' lineup can deliver. Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith struggled mightily in the NLDS, but Andy Pages came through with the biggest hit of the series. Freddie Freeman homered twice, Max Muncy went deep three times, and role players like Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández, and Kiké Hernández elevate their games in October. The bats can go cold, but anyone in this lineup can produce a big hit. Oh, and they have Mookie Betts, a four-time World Series champion.

Concerns

The Bats vs. Milwaukee's Elite Pitching

This overlaps with an advantage, but Milwaukee's pitching is just as elite as the Dodgers' from top to bottom. The Brewers are comfortable using unconventional strategies and don't need their starters to go seven innings. Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson are the headliners, but Milwaukee has a multitude of arms—including a deep bullpen and multi-inning relievers—to give opposing batters fits. That could spell trouble for a Dodgers lineup that sometimes struggles to string together productive at-bats. The question is simple: Can Los Angeles finally capitalize on scoring opportunities after going 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position in the NLDS? That's a tall order against this Brewers staff.

Dependence on the Home Run

Before Game 4, all 10 of the Dodgers' postseason runs had come via the long ball. They finally broke through with Pages' two-run single, but the fact remains: Los Angeles has struggled to manufacture runs in other ways. Against a Brewers club that excels at limiting mistakes, relying on home runs is dangerous. Milwaukee allowed just two home runs to the San Diego Padres in the NLDS.

Ricardo Sandoval is a freelance writer with On SI. He is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, and specializes in sports writing, particularly in MLB, NBA and NFL. He previously served as an Associate Editor for Dodgers Nation and has worked with Newsweek and The Sporting News. Follow @_RicardoSand.