The Los Angeles Dodgers face the Milwaukee Brewers for their final series of the regular season and the clubs could meet again in the National League Championship Series if both are able to advance that far.
However, the Brewers just lost Devin Williams, a relief pitcher who is one of their best players, for several weeks as he fractured his hand while punching a wall after celebrating the team clinching the NL Central title.
Last season, Williams was named the NL Rookie of the Year and won the Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Award after posting a microscopic 0.33 ERA in 27 innings of work while striking out 53 batters.
This season, he struggled early on but turned his season around and posted a 2.50 ERA in 54 innings while striking out 87 before being shut down.
While Milwaukee is without one of their most important players, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his club will not change any of their strategies heading into a series that could end up determining the NL West champion.
“I don’t think it changes as far as this weekend,” Roberts said. “Certainly, it’s a big hit to their club, their ‘pen. I don’t think it changes our lineup construction, (but) obviously, it’s one less player we have to prepare for.”
Last season, the Brewers were without Williams for the Wild Card Series against the Dodgers as the right-hander was dealing with a shoulder injury.
Brewers without Williams
The Brewers still have an elite pitching staff with three aces in Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta, along with Eric Lauer who has been pitching well as of late, and a bullpen that is anchored by Josh Hader, so any team facing them would still have their work cut out.
The Dodgers are scheduled to face Lauer and Burnes in the first two games of the series, and counter with Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias. Walker Buehler is lined up to start Sunday, but that could change, and the Brewers have not announced their probable.
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