Full Breakdown
Dodgers vs. Brewers: 2026 NLCS Preview
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Los Angeles Dodgers will open the 2026 National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, October 11, at American Family Field in Milwaukee. The best-of-seven series determines the National League’s representative in the World Series.
Background & Context
Both clubs entered the postseason as the league’s two 100-win teams. Milwaukee posted a franchise-record 103-59 mark, the best record in MLB, while Los Angeles finished 100-62, second in the National League. The teams have met three times in the NLCS over the past nine seasons, with the Dodgers sweeping the Brewers in 2025 and winning the 2018 NLCS in seven games.
Los Angeles carries lingering injuries. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani missed the NLDS because of knee and biceps issues and will not pitch in the NLCS. Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas, who left Game 3 of the NLDS with a lower-back strain, remained on the roster but his availability was uncertain. Manager Dave Roberts said he was “encouraged by what he saw” from Rojas in a Friday workout but declined to announce a roster decision until the next day.
Milwaukee’s roster is largely intact, but the Brewers will add a starting pitcher for the longer series. Right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, the presumptive National League Cy Young Award front-runner (1.80 ERA, 252 strikeouts), is slated to start Game 1.
Data & Statistics
- Regular-season records: Brewers 103-59; Dodgers 100-62.
- Run differential: Brewers +214 (league-best); Dodgers +201 (second).
- Misiorowski: 16-5, 1.80 ERA, 252 K, 1.59 ERA vs. Dodgers (17 IP).
- Tarik Skubal (Dodgers): 12-7, 2.61 ERA, 2.10 ERA vs. Brewers (25 2/3 IP).
- Rojas vs. left-handed pitching: .293 batting average, 18 K in 147 PA.
Official Statements & Responses
Roberts emphasized that the team will “evaluate Rojas” during the remaining workout before finalizing the NLCS roster. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman noted the organization’s confidence in its approach to the opponent.
Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold added that the club’s belief in its players is independent of “the economics” surrounding the upcoming collective-bargaining negotiations.
Why It Matters / Impact
The NLCS winner advances to the World Series, where the contrast between the Dodgers’ $323.6 million payroll and the Brewers’ $125.9 million payroll will be a focal point in debates about competitive balance and a potential salary-cap proposal in forthcoming collective-bargaining talks. A Brewers victory would mark the franchise’s first World Series appearance since 1982 and could shift public perception in the labor dispute.
On-the-Ground Reports
Second-baseman Brice Turang emphasized trust in the team’s game-by-game approach.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact start times for Games 2-5; some outlets list specific clock times while others provide only the day. No source confirms the exact time for Game 5.
What’s Next
- October 11 – Game 1, Dodgers at Brewers, 7 p.m. CT
- October 12 – Game 2, Dodgers at Brewers, 4 p.m. CT
- October 14 – Game 3, Brewers at Dodgers, 7 p.m. CT
- October 15 – Game 4, Brewers at Dodgers, 8 p.m. CT
- October 16 – Game 5 (if necessary), Brewers at Dodgers, 8 p.m. CT
- October 18 – Game 6 (if necessary), Dodgers at Brewers, 7 p.m. CT
- October 19 – Game 7 (if necessary), Dodgers at Brewers, 7 p.m. CT
The series will decide which of baseball’s two powerhouse clubs advances to the World Series, while also serving as a high-profile backdrop to the sport’s looming labor negotiations.