Christian Yelich knows exactly what makes Milwaukee such a special place to play, and he said it plainly before the Brewers’ NLCS rematch with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After Milwaukee knocked off the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the NLDS, the Brewers earned a shot at the Dodgers in the 2025 National League Championship Series. Los Angeles got there by getting past the Atlanta Braves in four games.
For Yelich, the connection between the team and the city is what stands out most.
“You understand that your performance as a team directly impacts the happiness of the people in the state and the city, and you don’t take that for granted,” he said.
The Brewers captain also made it clear he respects what’s coming next. He praised the Dodgers, but said Milwaukee is ready for the challenge. Los Angeles is chasing a third straight World Series title, while the Brewers are trying to reach the Fall Classic for the first time since 1982 and still have never won a championship.
Milwaukee finished with 103 wins, which gave the club a three-game edge over Los Angeles and home-field advantage in the NLCS. Still, the Dodgers bring plenty of firepower, and the Brewers’ offense will have to hold up against Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
The Brewers batted .257 as a team in 2026, the same average they posted in 2025, and ended the year with a .743 OPS. Jackson Chourio powered the NLDS win over San Diego with two decisive home runs and six RBIs, while William Contreras went 6-for-16 with two home runs. Yelich also chipped in, finishing 5-for-14 against the Padres.
Now Milwaukee gets the opener at American Family Field, and the Brewers will be leaning into that home crowd as they try to pull off the upset.
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The NLCS opener had the feel Milwaukee needed from the start: tight pitching, clean defense, and a crowd that kept leaning into every small break. Brice Turang was in the middle of all of it, helping the Brewers stay attached in a game where run prevention mattered almost as much as run scoring, and where one sharp play or one well-timed swing could change the entire mood.
Turang supplied both. His defense helped Milwaukee navigate an early jam and keep the deficit from growing, then he came through with the kind of home run that can tilt a playoff game and settle a dugout. With the bullpen backing him up and the atmosphere building around him, the Brewers had exactly the sort of jolt they were hoping for in a series opener like this, even if the full impact of that night was still left to be decided. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Won Their Way But One NLCS Concern Just Got Bigger
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Misiorowskis fastball was not fooling enough hitters, and the shortened outing only sharpens the attention on how Milwaukee will handle the rest of this series. The Brewers won the opener anyway, which is the important part, but against a lineup like Los Angeles, they will need more than run prevention and clean gloves if the concern around their young starter grows into a bigger issue. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Murphy Sounds All In On Jackson Chourios October Moment
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Chourio has also given Milwaukee needed production at the plate in the postseason, becoming a central part of the offense in key moments. His work so far has already changed the feel of the Brewers October, and with a matchup like this one looming, the attention on what he can do next only figures to grow. [Read more 🡒]