Seven years ago, the Brewers and Dodgers squared off in the 2018 NLCS, one that proved to be memorable. The Dodgers won that series in seven games. Both Los Angeles and Milwaukee’s rosters have turned out considerably since then but both franchises have remained perennial contenders. And in 2025, the two clubs will meet yet again for a berth in the World Series.
Scheduled Starters and Start Times
- Game 1: Blake Snell (Dodgers) vs. TBD
- Game 2: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) vs. Freddy Peralta (Brewers)
- Game 3: TBD vs. TBD
- Game 4: TBD vs. TBD
- Game 5: TBD vs. TBD
- Game 6: TBD vs. TBD
- Game 7: TBD vs. TBD
Games 1 & 2 will take place at 7:00 PM CT/5:00 PM PT on October 13 & 14, respectively. Game 3, the first of three (if necessary) in LA, will start at 5:00 PM CT/3:00 PM PT on October 16. The fourth, on October 17, will start at 7:30 PM CT/5:30 PT. Games 5 & 7 will also start on 7:30 PM CT/5:30 PM PT.
Game 6 is scheduled for October 20 at 4:00 PM CT/2:00 PM PT.
All games will air on TBS.
A Look at the Offenses
| Stat |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 825 | 806 |
| Home Runs | 244 | 166 |
| OPS | .768 | .735 |
| Whiff% | 25.8% | 22.5% |
| Hard Hit% | 42.1% | 39.3% |
While the Dodgers had one of the best offenses in all of baseball during the regular season, it wasn’t a party by any means during the NLDS against the Phillies.
Sure, the Dodgers had their moments. However, Los Angeles (NL) finished with 13 runs scored over four games, two fewer runs than the Phillies scored. The Dodgers’ offense combined for a .199/.280/.277 slash line. Shohei Ohtani was front and center behind their struggles.
Ohtani went 1-18 (.056 AVG) in the NLDS with nine strikeouts, tied for second in the Division Series. It wasn’t supposed to be easy for him, especially when taking into account that he had to face a steady diet of left-handed pitching (i.e., Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Ranger Suarez).
Nonetheless, the Dodgers figured out a way. Teoscar Hernandez blasted a significant home run in Game 1, Will Smith came up large in Game 2, and 2024 playoff hero Tommy Edman hit another postseason home run. And Alex Call, acquired at the deadline, went 2-2 with two walks, providing a strong right-handed hitting presence amidst the Phillies’ barrage of lefties.
The Brewers, meanwhile, were able to do damage against a vulnerable Cubs pitching staff. Milwaukee scored 22 runs over the five games, being only one of three teams (Yankees & Blue Jays were the others) to average more than four runs a game.
Jackson Chourio navigated a hamstring injury to hit .389 (1.088 OPS) with a home run and three extra-base hits. It was yet another playoff round for the 21-year-old, one year after he batted .455 with two home runs in the Wild Card round against the Mets.
William Contreras and Andrew Vaughn each hit two home runs. Both hit one each in Game 5. The two right-handed hitters likely loom large yet again in the NLCS, facing a formidable lefty in Game 1.
A Look at the Pitching
| tat | | |
|---|---|---|
| Starters’ ERA | 3.69 | 3.56 |
| Relievers’ ERA | 4.27 | 3.63 |
| Strikeouts | 1,505 | 1,432 |
| Opponents’ AVG | .232 | .230 |
| Chase% | 27.9% | 27.6% |
Los Angeles will throw Blake Snell in Game 1 of the NLCS, followed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2. Shohei Ohtani, originally scheduled for Game 5 — had it been necessary in the NLDS — will pitch in the Los Angeles leg of the series, per manager Dave Roberts.
The Brewers didn’t face Snell in the regular season. For those who remember, Snell missed months of the regular season with shoulder inflammation. It’ll be his job to get a Brewers team that makes a lot of contact swing-and-miss. And, that’s been something he has done well with over the course of his career.
Yamamoto, meanwhile, will look to put a wonky start against the Phillies behind him. The 27-year-old gave up six hits, one of which was a home run, over four innings. But on top of that, he’ll have to do better against the Brewers, compared to what happened in July. In his lone start against Milwaukee this season, he gave up four hits and two walks (three earned runs) over 0.2 IP.
Milwaukee will also have to contend with the Dodgers’ bullpen. Roki Sasaki was splendid again, while Jack Dreyer and Alex Vesia didn’t allow a run in three innings.
As for the Brewers, Brandon Woodruff is not available. Woodruff, who finished 2025 on the IL with a lat strain, has not played catch and isn’t an option against the Dodgers.
The Brewers had to try to piece things together against the Cubs. Freddy Peralta made two starts against the Cubs and will go in Game 2 after he was hit hard by Chicago in Game 4. Milwaukee hasn’t tipped its hand on what will be done for Game 1.
What Milwaukee was able to do in the NLDS effectively was work with what the team had with great effect. Jacob Misiorowski has done a bulk relief role out of the bullpen, as he struck out seven over seven against the Cubs. Chad Patrick, Grant Anderson, Game 5 opener Trevor Megill, and closer Abner Uribe threw up zeroes in that series.
However, to get through the Dodgers in a seven-game series, Quinn Priester and Jose Quintana could be key.
For Priester, he’ll need to get on track after he was pounded in the NLDS. Quintana, meanwhile, is a left-hander who pitched well as a piggybacker. The veteran struck out two over three in the previous series.
It’ll also mark a second chance for Quintana. Last year in the NLCS, when Quintana was with the Mets, the 36-year-old tried to get Dodgers hitters to chase, a strategy New York focused on throughout that series. The problem, though, was that it didn’t work. Quintana walked four over 3.1 IP and couldn’t limit a potent Dodgers lineup. He gave up five earned runs and five hits, one of which was a home run.
Our Prediction
While the Dodgers and Brewers have their distinct differences, both teams also share some striking similarities in certain regards. Both teams ranked in the top three in the game in terms of chases. Meaning, it could be a war of attrition for their pitching staffs.
If that’s the case, it could be to the Dodgers’ benefit. We’ll take the Dodgers to advance to the World Series once more.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including the numbers behind the 2025 ALCS.