Three reasons why Dodgers-Brewers 2026 NLCS rematch will be different

In last year's NLCS, Misiorowski was forced into early relief after a rough start from Game 3 opener Aaron Ashby, who allowed extra-base hits to the first two batters he faced, Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, before being pulled after issuing a 4-0 walk. Misiorowski calmed things down, striking out the first two batters to get out of the jam.

He's been outstanding in all three career appearances against the Dodgers, which also includes two starts, one in each of the past two seasons. Overall, Misiorowski is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 17 innings, striking out 27 of his 66 batters faced (40.9 percent) while only allowing 15 base runners (22.7 percent), via Stathead.

It's hard to beat the same team twice

The upcoming best-of-seven showdown between the Dodgers and Brewers marks the seventh NLCS rematch and fifth since 2000. Of the previous four, the team that lost the first meeting went on to win the second.

It would be one thing if Los Angeles had dominated Milwaukee in all of their other recent meetings, but that hasn't been the case. The Brewers have won the past two regular-season series, including 2026's 4-3. That followed a 6-0 sweep in 2025. After last year's NLCS dud when Milwaukee averaged one run per game and had 14 hits for the entire 4-0 series loss, it may be due for some better playoff fortune.

The driving force behind the Brewers' success is an ability to reach base with a patient approach at the plate and expert situational hitting. But as the Dodgers proved last season, it's hard to do that against a pitching staff firing on all cylinders.

That might not be the case for Los Angeles this series, however. Both Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, who started Games 2 and 4, respectively, in the NLDS, each issued five walks against the Braves. Milwaukee, which leads the league in on-base percentage (.341), is exceptionally disciplined at the plate, posting the major's lowest chase rate (26.9 percent) during the regular season (league average is 30.5 percent), per Baseball Savant. 

In the most recent Dodgers-Brewers regular-season meeting from Aug. 13-16, Brewers batters generated an 10.9 percent walk rate, drawing 17 in 156 plate appearances, according to FanGraphs data. If Milwaukee can reach base like it did in the August matchup, which is possible as long as Dodgers command issues persist, few teams are better equipped to take advantage thanks to its small-ball style of play. 

Shohei Ohtani being less than 100 percent

Perhaps the biggest hit to the Dodgers' quest for a third consecutive NL pennant is Ohtani's health. Before the NLDS began, the four-time MVP described injuries to his left knee and right biceps as "something I'm just going to have to manage" when speaking to reporters through an interpreter last Friday.

Last October, Ohtani earned NLCS MVP honors against the Brewers after hitting .357 with three home runs and pitching six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in a close-out Game 4 win. Already ruled out from pitching the rest of the season, Ohtani will need to rediscover his mojo in the batter's box. During the NLDS, Ohtani was 2-for-13 (.154) with four strikeouts and two walks. That continued a prolonged slump over his final 19 regular-season games dating back to Aug. 18. During that span, Ohtani had a .160 batting average and 11 more strikeouts (30) than total bases (19).

In Tuesday's NLDS Game 3, manager Dave Roberts moved Ohtani down to fifth in the lineup, his lowest spot in a batting order since 2020.

Against a formidable Brewers pitching staff, the Dodgers may need all hands on deck. But entering Game 1, their best player appears compromised.