The Milwaukee Brewers are two wins away from reaching the World Series, while the Los Angeles Dodgers are facing enormous pressure heading into Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
Milwaukee took a commanding 2-0 series lead with a 7-4 victory in Game 2, putting the two-time defending World Series champions in a difficult position. The series now shifts to Los Angeles, where the Dodgers will attempt to get back into the matchup before the Brewers move closer to eliminating them.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.
Dodgers Need Their Offense to Wake Up
The biggest concern for Los Angeles has been its inability to consistently produce runs during the postseason.
Despite featuring stars such as Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers have struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Their offense has not delivered the consistent production expected from a team chasing its third consecutive World Series championship.
Ohtani has also battled injuries and struggled at the plate during October. His ability to get back on track could be one of the biggest factors in determining whether Los Angeles can climb back into the series.
The Dodgers have the experience and talent to make a comeback, but they need their biggest hitters to start delivering in important situations.
Milwaukee Looks to Keep Rolling
The Brewers have put themselves in an excellent position by winning the first two games at home.
Milwaukee’s success has come from a combination of timely hitting, strong pitching and an ability to take advantage of the Dodgers’ mistakes. The Brewers won 103 games during the regular season and have continued to demonstrate why they were among baseball’s strongest teams throughout the year.
Now they will try to carry that momentum into Los Angeles.
Left hander Robert Gasser is scheduled to start Game 3 for Milwaukee. The Brewers will need him to provide quality innings and help prevent the Dodgers from building early momentum in front of their home crowd.
Blake Snell Gets the Ball for Los Angeles
The Dodgers will counter with left hander Blake Snell, who faces a critical assignment with his team trailing in the series.
Snell will need to limit Milwaukee’s opportunities and give the Los Angeles offense time to find its rhythm. Avoiding walks, controlling the running game and keeping the Brewers from producing early runs will be important.
The Dodgers also need their bullpen to deliver if the game remains close late.
A Pivotal Night in Los Angeles
Game 3 could dramatically change the direction of the NLCS.
A Milwaukee victory would put the Brewers one win away from eliminating the defending champions. A Dodgers win would cut the deficit to 2-1 and give Los Angeles a chance to build momentum at home.
The Brewers have controlled the opening two games, but the Dodgers have the championship experience to make the series competitive again.
With Gasser and Snell set to take the mound, both teams understand the importance of getting off to a strong start.
For Milwaukee, the mission is to keep its postseason run moving forward. For Los Angeles, the goal is simple: protect its championship hopes and avoid falling into an even deeper hole.