The Milwaukee Brewers didn’t spend much time pretending the NLCS draw was anything less than what it is. To reach the World Series, they have to go through the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Christian Yelich made clear that Milwaukee understands exactly who is standing in its way.
Speaking ahead of Game 1, the Brewers captain said the respect is real, but so is the readiness to compete.
“Obviously we respect them. We respect everything they’ve done in the game, how they go about the game.
You can’t say enough great things about them, but at the same time, we”re ready to compete with them. You know going into the season if you want to get to where you need to go, you’re probably going to have to go and play these guys.
“So we’re not surprised to be in this situation and in this series with them. I think that’s what you kind of expect when the postseason starts, and we’re looking forward to it.
We want to play the best, and they’ve certainly been that the last few years. So it’s going to be a great series.”
That matchup comes with plenty on the line for both clubs. Milwaukee is trying to get to its second World Series in franchise history, while Los Angeles is chasing a third straight trip there. The Brewers also enter the series with home-field advantage after a 103-win regular season.
And they’ve already shown they can handle the Dodgers this year. Milwaukee won four of the seven meetings in the regular-season series, a small but meaningful edge as the seven-game set begins.
Now it becomes a matter of who handles the pressure better when the lights get brighter. Two of the game’s biggest teams are finally in the same series, and the Brewers say they’re ready for it.
In Other News...
Brewers Get An Early Miguel Rojas Read Before NLCS Opener
Miguel Rojas gave the Dodgers a meaningful early sign as they approached the National League Championship Series, getting back on the field for batting practice and ground balls after the back injury that forced him out of the NLDS. Dave Roberts said the issue is not expected to keep the infielder out of the next round, which matters for a Los Angeles team still fine-tuning its roster before opening the series against Milwaukee.
The Dodgers plan to keep evaluating Rojas before the NLCS opener, so the final call is still ahead even if the early indicators are encouraging. Roster construction is part of the equation too, with Los Angeles leaning toward carrying a 13th pitcher and likely trimming a position player, another small but relevant detail as the Brewers prepare to see which version of the Dodgers theyll be facing. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers NLCS Roster Leaves One High-Stakes Pitching Twist To Watch
With the National League Championship Series set to open against the Dodgers, the Brewers have turned in a roster that reflects both their usual balance and the urgency of October. Milwaukee is carrying the expected mix of infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers, and the club enters the series with a bullpen that has had several days to reset. That gives the Brewers a little more flexibility than they might normally have this time of year, especially when it comes to deciding how to handle middle relief in the most important spots.
The most interesting wrinkle now is how Milwaukee lines up its pitching after the initial wave of the series. The Brewers have already mapped out their starting plan for the first three games, but the way they use the rest of the staff could shape the tone of the matchup just as much as the names on the lineup card. Against a Dodgers club that can force managers to make decisions early, every lever matters, and the Brewers still have at least one high-stakes pitching choice hanging over the series. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Woodruff Just Created A Brewers Roster Dilemma For October
Brandon Woodruff took a notable step in his comeback from a right shoulder injury this week, getting back on a mound for the first time as he works toward a possible late-October return. For a Brewers club with bigger immediate concerns, it still matters because Woodruff is trying to build himself back into a relief option if Milwaukee keeps advancing, and every bullpen session from here carries a little more weight than usual.
The next stretch will help determine how realistic that path is, with more mound work ahead and a possible live batting practice session if his arm responds well. It has been a good October for Brewers storylines off the field too, with Pratt even getting rewarded by Coca-Cola after his NL Division Series celebration with Fanta, but Woodruff's recovery is the one that could actually reshape the roster if the Brewers need another arm in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]