The National League Championship Series kicks off Sunday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers. This matchup revisits the 2025 NLCS, where the Dodgers swept Milwaukee en route to a second straight World Series title.
Game schedule
All times are Eastern. Game 1 begins Sunday, Oct. 11 at 8:00 p.m. on FOX, followed by Game 2 on Monday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 p.m. (FOX/FS1). The series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 on Oct. 14 (8:00 p.m.) and Oct. 15 (9:00 p.m.) on FS1. If necessary, Game 5 will be played Friday, Oct. 16 at 9:00 p.m., Game 6 Sunday, Oct. 18 at 8:00 p.m., and Game 7 Monday, Oct. 19 at 8:00 p.m., all on FS1 except the final game on FOX.
Season series recap
During the regular season the two clubs met three times. In late May, the Brewers won the opener 5‑1 behind starter Logan Henderson’s five scoreless innings, but the Dodgers responded with an 11‑3 victory in Game 2 and a 5‑1 win in the rubber match.
In August, the series flipped in Los Angeles. Milwaukee took Game 1, 5‑4, after closer Edwin Diaz surrendered three runs in the ninth. The Dodgers answered with a 3‑1 win in Game 2, but the Brewers closed the set with a 4‑2 victory in Game 3, highlighted by another strong Henderson start. Overall, Milwaukee won four of the seven regular‑season meetings.
Why the Brewers have a chance
Unlike last year, when the Brewers entered the NLDS with a shaky rotation and had to start Jacob Misiorowski in a do‑or‑die Game 5, this season their staff is set. Misiorowski is slated for Game 1, and Henderson – who has not allowed three or more runs in any of his 24 starts this year – is expected to pitch Game 2.
The Brewers also earned the National League’s top seed, securing home‑field advantage throughout the series. Their regular‑season performance, combined with a healthier bullpen, gives them a solid platform to challenge the high‑payroll Dodgers, who carry a $339 million payroll, the second‑largest in baseball.
Dodgers’ key pieces
Los Angeles still boasts a deep roster, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani delivered a historic NLCS performance last year, hitting three home runs and striking out ten in Game 4. This season, however, lingering injuries have limited his pitching role, and his recent batting numbers have slipped – a .241/.322/.472 slash line in August and a .154/.267/.154 line in the NLDS against Atlanta.
Despite the dip, Ohtani remains a threat, though he has been moved down to the fifth spot in the lineup for Game 3, his lowest batting order position to date.
Prediction
Given the Brewers’ improved rotation, home‑field advantage, and the Dodgers’ recent offensive slowdown, the series is expected to be tightly contested. The most likely outcome is a full seven‑game series with the Brewers emerging victorious.
Original reporting: All Sports Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
