The 2025 National League Championship Series is set. The Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers will square off for the pennant in what promises to be a test of depth, discipline, and sheer pitching dominance. For the Brewers, fresh off their five-game NLDS victory over the Chicago Cubs, this marks their first NLCS appearance since 2018, the culmination of a year defined by resilience and strategic adaptation. The Dodgers, meanwhile, return to the LCS for the fourth time in the last six seasons with their familiar mix of star power and high expectations.
How the Brewers Stack Up vs. the Dodgers in NLCS
NLCS ready ?#MagicBrew x @amfam pic.twitter.com/4jil9C5u1r
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 13, 2025
Starting Rotation
Milwaukee’s greatest strength entering this series lies on the mound. Freddy Peralta has been the unquestioned ace of the staff, emerging as one of the National League’s most effective strikeout arms down the stretch. Behind him, rookie Jacob Misiorowski and left-hander Robert Gasser have given the Brewers a dynamic combination of power and poise. Misiorowski’s high-velocity fastball and wipeout slider have baffled hitters all year, while Gasser’s command and efficiency offer a steadying counterbalance. Lefty Aaron Ashby will start Game One against the Dodgers on Monday.
The Dodgers counter with a rotation built on elite potential and postseason experience. Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the first two games of the series, while Tyler Glasnow adds depth to the rotation. Glasnow’s health remains the key variable; when he’s right, few pitchers in baseball can match his mix of velocity and break.
Offense
Offensively, these teams could not be more different in design. The Dodgers’ lineup remains a gauntlet of MVP-caliber hitters. Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman headline a trio capable of changing a game with one swing. Even with Ohtani limited to DH duties, his presence transforms every at-bat.
Milwaukee’s lineup, on the other hand, thrives on situational hitting and execution. Christian Yelich has returned to form with a disciplined approach and gap-to-gap power reminiscent of his MVP peak. William Contreras has become the engine of the Brewers’ offense, combining contact skill with clutch production. Sal Frelick and Brice Turang inject speed and defensive versatility, essential in tight postseason games. The Brewers will rely on manufactured runs, whereas the Dodgers lean heavily on power production. This should present a contrast that could define the series’ rhythm.
Bullpen
Few teams deploy a bullpen as strategically as Milwaukee. All-Star closer Trevor Megill is the anchor in the bullpen, saving 30 games this season. Abner Uribe provides mid-inning firepower, displaying both consistency and control in this role. The Brewers’ ability to shorten games to six innings has been their calling card all season.
The Dodgers’ bullpen, though improved, remains less predictable. The Brewers will have to be prepared, however, to be able to put up runs late in games. Dodgers reliever Roki Sasaki has emerged as a major asset for the team. Sasaki’s late-season outings since returning from injury have displayed elite velocity and poise under pressure. His quick rise from minor league rehab to playoff leader has made him a potential difference-maker in critical games of the series. Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen have also anchored the late innings for the Dodgers.
The Brewers’ pitching staff must ensure that the starters can string enough solid innings together and minimize power hitting. While the Brewers have an advantage in the bullpen, the offense will need to prepare for an improving Dodgers relief corps in the playoffs, especially the starter-turned-reliever Sasaki. If Milwaukee can force early exits from Dodger starters, their bullpen depth could tilt the balance.
X-Factors
For the Brewers, the key may be secondary production. If the recent clutch hitting of Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers continues, it could make a difference against Dodgers’ pitching. Defensively, Turang and Frelick headline one of the most athletic defensive units in the league. This gives the Brewers an advantage in run prevention over a Dodgers team that occasionally sacrifices range for offense. While the Dodgers remain the more star-laden roster, Milwaukee’s balance, bullpen, and defensive precision give them a legitimate path to a pennant. The Brewers’ ability to execute in close games and limit power threats could make this a classic, low-scoring NLCS.
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
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