The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers are playing each other in October for only the third time in postseason history, with a second meeting in the National League Championship Series.

The Brewers finished the 2025 season with the best record in baseball and entered the playoffs as the top seed in the NL. They are powered by a pitching staff that had the second-best team ERA and an offense that was third in runs scored, right behind the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ pitching staff finished middle of the pack in terms of team ERA. But, they didn’t have a healthy starting rotation for most of the year and were saddled with an ineffective bullpen down the stretch.

Dodgers starting pitchers have been excellent since getting back to full strength. While the bullpen still has some question marks, the emergence of Roki Sasaki has provided a significant boost.

The Brewers swept the season series against the Dodgers, which is among multiple intriguing aspects of their NLCS matchup. The clubs share similarities, but of course there is a significant disparity in payrolls.

And in the eyes of Brewers manager Pat Murphy, the Dodgers effectively are in a different stratosphere altogether.

“We’re not overconfident, that’s for sure. The Dodgers are a powerhouse, what can you say? You don’t see many commercials in the United States, Canada, Japan, anywhere across the world, that don’t have Dodgers in it. They have the star power and they’re great players,” Murphy said the day before Game 1.

Then on Monday he surmised “most” players on the Dodgers roster couldn’t name eight active Brewers.

“They shouldn’t have to know the names, but these are some guys that hopefully they know their names by the time it’s over. You never know,” Murphy added.

The payroll difference between the Dodgers and Brewers is garnering plenty of attention, when the focus should be on how well Milwaukee has developed young talent. All but four players in the organization have an average annual value of more than $10 million.

The likes of Brice Turang, Sal Frelick and Abner Uribe still on respective rookie contracts that have allowed the Brewers to field a competitive team without significant spending.

Dodgers don’t view Brewers as underdogs

Blake Snell

When asked about his game plan against the Brewers lineup, Blake Snell praised their energy and ability to put the ball in play.

“You make them swing at your pitches, good pitches,” he said. You figure out what they’re good at, what they’re not good at, and that will just tell you how to attack them.

“I can’t say like too much because they’re going to watch this. But, I mean, it’s a really good lineup. I’m not falling for the Average Joes. They’re not. They have the best record in the NL. They’re a really good team.”

Snell proceeded to allow just one hit and face the minimum over eight shutout innings. He finished with 10 strikeouts in the Dodgers’ Game 1 win.

Dave Roberts

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.

“They’re just gritty, they’re tough, they take on Murph’s personality, they’ve got some guys that can slug, they’ve got some athleticism, they really defend well, they can pitch well,” Roberts said.

“So it’s like they’re going to be in every game. They’ve got complete buy-in, and they’re hungry.”

And like Snell, he does not agree with Murphy’s assessment of the power balance in the head-to-head matchup.

“So I definitely felt they were a very good ballclub. So anything Murph speaks to, in the Lou Holtz vein, we’re not buying, because that’s a very good ballclub,” Roberts said.

As for why Murphy is taking this route with his messaging, Roberts believes that’s just his counterpart’s managing style.

“No, not a concern at all,” Roberts said of the Dodgers possibly getting duped by Murphy’s public messaging. “That’s just kind of how Murph is. He tries to get into the psyche, and he’s telling his team the opposite, in the clubhouse, behind closed doors. So we know the act.

“He’s going to have his guys prepared. But no, we’re prepared. We’re playing good baseball and we expect the same out of those guys. And all the talk isn’t going to really factor in once the game starts.”

Andrew Friedman

When asked about the Brewers’ ability to be perennial postseason contenders despite a low payroll, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman had nothing but positive things to say about their front office.

“The Brewers are a really good team. Team speed, defense, they don’t chase, put the ball in play. They do a lot of things well,” he said. “And I think the depth of their roster really helps them withstand 162 games and also puts them in position to be a really competitive team in October.

“I’ve known Matt Arnold for a long time. I think what him and his team have done is incredible. Not surprising. But just the attention to detail, the way the roster fits together, it’s really impressive.”

That’s exactly why Murphy’s comments this week are a disservice not only to his players, but to the drafting and developmental work of the organization.

As for the lack of regular season success against the Brewers this season, Friedman said the Dodgers earned the result but also pointed to how much of a better spot his team is in since July.

“Going 0-6 in the regular season, we earned it, we deserved it. They pitched really well against us. We didn’t have our typical kind of approach and game plan,” Friedman said. “They got us off that a little bit, which is helpful to have lived through and seen.

“We also weren’t full. Munce wasn’t in there, but again, they’re a really good team, a really good pitching staff. I think those six games and going through it and being able to postmortem and look at that, I think it will be helpful going forward.

“But, again, their pitching staff is really good. And coming off the series against a really good pitching staff, runs are going to be at a premium. Fortunately for us we feel our pitching staff is really good as well.”

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