The Dodgers and Brewers are back in the National League Championship Series, and this time the path starts the same way it did a year ago: in Milwaukee.
Game 1 is set for Sunday night, October 11, at American Family Field, after both clubs punched their tickets on the same day. The Dodgers finished off the Braves in Game 4 of the Division Series on Wednesday night in Atlanta, and a few hours later the Brewers closed out the Padres at Petco Park.
Milwaukee arrives with the best record in baseball in 2026, going 103-59 for a franchise record and pairing that with the sport’s top run differential at plus-214. The Dodgers were right behind them at 100-62, with the second-best run differential in the game at plus-201.
That sets up an NLCS opener in Milwaukee for the second straight year.
Last October, the Dodgers dropped all six of their regular-season games against the Brewers, then flipped the script in the playoffs and swept them in the NLCS. Los Angeles held Milwaukee to exactly one run in each of the four games, though the series was tighter than the sweep record suggests; the Dodgers scored just 15 runs across the four contests.
This year’s regular-season meetings went the other way. The Dodgers took two of three in Milwaukee from May 22-24, then the Brewers won three of four at Dodger Stadium to take the season series four games to three.
It also continues a familiar pattern for the Dodgers. This is the fifth time they’ve faced the same opponent in the NLCS in consecutive seasons.
Dodgers repeat NLCS matchups
1977-78 vs. Phillies (both wins)
2008-09 vs. Phillies (both losses)
2016-17 vs. Cubs (loss, win)
2020-21 vs. Braves (win, loss)
2025-26 vs. Brewers (win, TBD)
The Brewers are also a familiar postseason opponent for Los Angeles. This will be the fourth time the teams have met in the playoffs, a list that includes the 2018 NLCS, won by the Dodgers with Game 7 in Milwaukee, and the 2020 wild card round, when Los Angeles swept 2-0 at Dodger Stadium.
Fox Sports will carry the NLCS, though the network has not yet announced whether the games will air on Fox, FS1, or both. MLB also has not released official start times yet, but with Sunday’s Game 1 the only baseball game on the schedule, an evening start is expected. Game 2 on Monday in Milwaukee also figures to begin earlier, since Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on TBS is likely to get the prime nighttime window usually reserved for the opener of this round.
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Dodgers Are Back In The NLCS With One October Question Remaining
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For Dave Roberts, the series win added another layer to an already hefty October rsum, as he moved into sole possession of second place on the postseason wins list for managers with 72. The bigger question now is the one that always follows the Dodgers this time of year, because getting back to the NLCS is no longer the challenge. What comes next is the part that has kept this core chasing something bigger. [Read more 🡒]