Biggest questions for Dodgers, Brewers heading into NLCS

When the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers open the 2025 National League Championship Series on Monday night in Milwaukee, it will be a battle of star power versus roster chemistry.

This season, when the two teams have met, Milwaukee's brand of baseball has come out on top, with the Brewers sweeping the regular-season series from the Dodgers. However, in those six wins, three have been one-run victories, while two others were by two runs. 

Could those close games be a preview of what we'll see in this year's NLCS? If so, it could favor the Brewers, and here's why.

Biggest NLCS question for the Dodgers? The bullpen

Dodger relievers have been one of the team's weaknesses for the majority of the season, and that has continued in the postseason as well. 

When the game is turned over to the bullpen this postseason, Los Angeles has posted a 5.75 ERA in 20.1 innings. Compare that to the 2.02 ERA posted by Dodgers starters in their five postseason outings, and it's clear why Milwaukee will want to jump on Los Angeles pitching early and force Dave Roberts to go to his bullpen.

While the Dodgers may have found their closer in Roki Sasaki, who has allowed just one hit in 5.1 scoreless innings this postseason, getting the bridge from the starters to Sasaki could be a big challenge for Roberts.

Consider the case of Blake Treinen, the veteran right-hander in the first year of a two-year, $22 million deal. He finished the regular season with a 5.40 ERA, yet Roberts has been forced to use him in the postseason as well ... with not-so-great results. In 2.1 innings over four games, Treinen has been rocked for four hits and two runs, jumping his ERA to 7.71.

In clutch situations, Roberts may have to use relievers who haven't performed well lately, and that's a red flag for a team trying to repeat as world champions.

Biggest NLCS question for the Brewers? The starters

On paper, Milwaukee's starters look solid. After all, Quinn Priester (3.32 ERA) and Freddy Peralta (2.70 ERA) were each among the National League's best during the regular season, giving the Brewers a solid one-two punch.

Against the Cubs in the NLDS, however, that punch was pretty lifeless.

Peralta's 4.66 ERA over 9.2 innings was at least better than Priester's four-run, three-hit outing that lasted just 0.2 innings in Game 3 at Wrigley Field. That equates to a 54.00 ERA and a worry about the 25-year-old right-hander before he makes his first start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

When asked recently, one NL scout said that the Brewers don't have someone like a Tarik Skubal or Paul Skenes who can go out in his start and take over the game. With Los Angeles sporting three former MVPs in the lineup, that's a concern.

The Brewers got enough from their starters and offense during the regular season to sweep the Dodgers. Can they do the same when the October lights shine brightest?