The Los Angeles Dodgers remained undefeated against the Milwaukee Brewers in the postseason by clawing out a 3-1 win in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers initially were able to gain an advantage over a talented Brewers team thanks to two excellent pitching performances from Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
In the lead up to the NLCS beginning, manager Pat Murphy praised the Dodgers’ star power and surmised “most” players on their roster couldn’t name eight active Brewers.
The messaging, intentional or not, created the perception that the Brewers were somewhat of an underdog in the series. However, the Dodgers did not enter the NLCS underestimating their opponent, or as Blake Snell put it, they aren’t “falling for the Average Joes” perception.
Murphy contests the idea that he, nor the Brewers, are purposefully creating an underdog status and pointed to the fact that not many predicted his team to have the season they achieved.
“I don’t think we’re creating an underdog mentality. There’s not one of you out there that predicted us to win over 81 games this year,” Murphy said. “Not one person. So when that happens, who are we? You know what I mean? Like, who are we?”
In Murphy’s eyes, the Dodgers and Brewers are on different levels in terms of payroll and name-recognition. He praised the talents of Brice Turang, Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio, but argued they haven’t become household names yet.
“We don’t have the big-name payroll, we don’t have the big-name stars, although some are becoming recognizable,” Murphy said. “It’s not like we don’t have star power. But we don’t have $700 million guys and we don’t have guys with $300 million contracts.
He believes the Brewers are the underdogs for those reasons but argues that doesn’t mean they’re unequipped to face the Dodgers.
“But with all that said, we’re the underdog because we are. Now, underdog meaning we’re not capable? I didn’t say not capable,” he said, “I’m just saying we’re the team that nobody predicted to win over 81 games anywhere.
“Maybe we won’t be underdogs in the future. But based on the things that predict success in the Major Leagues — you mentioned payroll, that’s a correlation between great success and great payroll.
“So you can bring it up if you want to, but I don’t bring it up with our guys. I just try to get them to play hard and believe they can.
Dodgers seeing through Brewers underdog perception
While some believe that the Brewers are the underdog in the series, several members of the Dodgers do not agree with that sentiment.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had a high opinion of the Brewers entering the season and isn’t surprised Murphy’s group has made it this far. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman had nothing but positive things to say about the Brewers and their front office.
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