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. 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
