The Dodgers have already seen what happens when Milwaukee’s pitching gets rolling, and the memory of last year’s NLCS still hangs over this weekend series. Los Angeles handled the Brewers in that matchup, and the way it unfolded left plenty of people feeling like the Dodgers had the whole thing under control from the jump. Milwaukee had home-field advantage then, too, but the series never really tilted its way.
This time around, though, the Brewers arrive in a much different spot. They’re back atop the NL Central, and they’ve got a better record than the Dodgers. If these teams end up crossing paths again in the NLCS, it would be for the second straight year, though the Braves and other NL contenders could change that picture.
Milwaukee’s rise has come even as some of the other clubs that gave the Dodgers trouble in last year’s postseason have faded. Toronto is out of playoff contention, and the Phillies look headed for a likely Wild Card spot.
The Brewers, meanwhile, keep humming along. Even the Freddy Peralta trade during the offseason hasn’t knocked them off course.
That’s why it would be a mistake to assume this year’s version of Milwaukee is just last year’s group in a different wrapper. The Brewers still lean on the whole machine more than one overpowering bat or arm, but the rotation has changed in a big way.
Jacob Misiorowski has made the biggest leap of all. Few players in baseball have seen a production spike like his, and his Cy Young case is said to be the strongest in the NL.
The raw stuff was obvious the first time he stepped on a mound, which helped land him in the All-Star Game last year even though the numbers alone didn’t fully justify it. He was still learning on the fly then.
Now, he looks like the kind of ace Milwaukee hasn’t had since Corbin Burnes’ Cy Young season. Peralta may be gone, but the Brewers’ rotation is better, not just because of what Freddy hasn’t done this season, but because of the young arms coming behind him.
Logan Henderson is one of them. He’s been out for a significant stretch with a back strain, but when he’s been available, he’s been excellent. The Dodgers will see him in the series finale on Sunday.
Then there’s Kyle Harrison, another arm that fits what the Brewers do best. Two teams already took a swing at him for his talent and couldn’t unlock it, and it wasn’t until the Red Sox sent him to Milwaukee for Caleb Durbin and pieces that he started to take off.
Now he’s turned into one of the more electric young starters in the NL. His strikeout rate was 22.9 K% before this season, and it’s up to 29.7 in 2026.
He can be volatile, but when things are clicking, he’s the kind of pitcher who can take over a game.
That’s where the real danger sits for the Dodgers. It’s easier to picture Milwaukee’s starters shutting down a Dodgers lineup for stretches than it is to imagine the Brewers offense consistently solving this kind of pitching staff, especially now that the deadline brought in Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell is back, with Tyler Glasnow not far off.
In Other News...
Tarik Skubals Dodgers Future Suddenly Feels Bigger Than This Season
Tarik Skubals arrival in Los Angeles immediately gave the Dodgers another front-line arm for a season built around October expectations, but it also added a longer-term wrinkle to the deal. The trade deadline move brought a pitcher who has already talked about how much he likes the fit, and it is easy to see why the Dodgers would see more than just a short-term rental in a player of that caliber.
The part still hanging over the move is what comes next after the postseason run. Skubals camp has already suggested the Dodgers could have an edge when the time comes to talk contract, but for now the left-hander has kept the focus on baseball and the championship chase. That leaves the biggest question around the trade unresolved, with a future in Los Angeles suddenly feeling as important as whatever happens this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Suddenly Face A Freddie Freeman Injury Concern
Freddie Freeman gave the Dodgers a scare against the Royals when he chased a foul ball, fell into the dugout and was slow to shake off the collision. He stayed in the game at first, but soreness eventually forced him out, leaving Los Angeles to monitor one of its most important hitters after an awkward play that could have looked a lot worse in real time.
The early sense around the club is encouraging, with the pain mostly centered in Freemans left shoulder and the team treating him as a day-to-day situation. Manager Dave Roberts called it a close call, saying the Dodgers dodged a bullet, and for a club trying to keep its lineup intact, that sort of relief matters almost as much as the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Trade Addition Suddenly Looks Like A Home Run Bet Again
Andy Pages has quietly become part of the home run conversation again as the Dodgers head into Aug. 13, with his recent power production and the days pitching matchup putting him back on the radar for bettors looking beyond the usual stars. In a slate built around prop angles, his name stands out because the setup is favorable enough to make the price feel interesting without needing much embellishment.
For a Dodgers lineup that can turn any game into a launch-angle contest, Pages is the kind of player who can change the tone of a card in one swing. The analysis around him is less about certainty than opportunity, and that is exactly what makes this one worth watching as the matchup unfolds. [Read more 🡒]