Dodgers NLCS preview: Who has edge in rematch with Brewers?

In the wake of his team’s National League Division Series defeat of the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was asked who he preferred to face in the NL Championship Series.Brewers or Padres?The beer-soaked executive smiled.“I just want chaos,” he said.Alas, Friedman’s wish wouldn’t be granted.Hours after his team booked its place in the NLCS, the Brewers did the same by winning Game 4 of their NLDS in San Diego –– avoiding a potential Game 5 that would have worn down both teams’ pitching.Instead, this year’s NLCS will be a rematch of last season’s one-sided affair, with the Dodgers and Brewers meeting again after the Dodgers’ pennant-clinching sweep last year.This time, the storylines will be similar: The Brewers trying to vanquish the defending champions.Trying to negate the near $300 million disparity between the two teams’ payrolls.

And trying to turn their regular-season success (having led the majors in wins for a second-straight year with a 103-59 record) into October glory.The Dodgers, of course, will be favored.They will be pegged to return to the World Series in search of an historic three-peat.Game 1 is set for Sunday at American Family Field in Milwaukee.In the meantime, here is a look at how the clubs match up ahead of the best-of-seven series:Getting on baseThe Dodgers did most of their damage in the NLDS via the long ball.But they also kept the Braves’ pitching staff under constant stress; taking competitive at-bats, driving up pitch counts, and creating a string of opportunities that they finally started to cash in.Their 1-for-16 mark with runners in scoring position wasn’t good.But that’s also part of the reality of postseason baseball (case in point, they held the Braves to 1-for-23 in such situations).The good news: Practically every regular in the lineup besides Shohei Ohtani (2-for-13 in the NLDS) and Will Smith (1-for-16) had a big moment in the opening roun...