The Milwaukee Brewers are headed into the National League Championship Series with their roster set and their bullpen fully rested.
After taking down the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the best-of-five NLDS, Milwaukee gets another crack at the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s the same matchup as last year, and the prize remains the same: a shot at the Brewers’ first World Series appearance since 1982, and their first since joining the National League.
The team released its NLCS roster just hours before first pitch, and the group is loaded with the same core that carried Milwaukee through the Division Series.
Here’s how the Brewers lined up for the matchup with Los Angeles:
Infielders: Jake Bauers, David Hamilton, Brice Turang, Cooper Pratt, Andrew Vaughn, Joey Ortiz.
Outfielders: Jackson Chourio, Luis Lara, Christian Yelich, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick.
Catchers: William Contreras, Gary Sanchez.
Pitchers: Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, Dustin May, Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Shane Drohan, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, JoJo Romero, Anthony Senzatela, Chad Patrick.
Milwaukee has already revealed that Misiorowski, Henderson and Gasser will start Games One through Three. With several days off behind them, the Brewers’ bullpen enters the series fresh, which gives the late innings a very different feel.
That makes the middle relief spots especially worth watching. Ashby delivered three scoreless innings in Game Four of the NLDS, while Uribe and Megill kept handling the eighth and ninth innings. If the Brewers get into a tight game late, those arms are likely to matter again.
One name to keep an eye on is Dustin May. He started Game Three of the NLDS, but that role is not his this time. The Brewers could still lean on him out of the bullpen against the Dodgers, one of his former teams.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
Brewers Pulled Another Postseason Mind Game Before Facing The Dodgers
Before the National League Championship Series even got rolling, Milwaukee found another little edge to work with at American Family Field. During the Dodgers pre-series workout, the ballpark speakers carried a lo-fi music playlist, a low-key soundtrack that fit right into the kind of atmosphere the Brewers like to create when an opponent is trying to settle into its routine.
It was the latest example of a postseason habit that has become part tactic, part theater. Milwaukee has leaned on smooth jazz and other deliberately calming sounds in similar situations before, turning pregame work into something a little less comfortable for the visiting club. In a series where every detail gets magnified, even the music choice feels like part of the game plan. [Read more 🡒]