Why Dodgers could face trouble in Brewers NLCS rematch: Feels like a different team
The numbers from last year’s National League Championship Series speak for themselves.Runs: Dodgers 15, Brewers 4Hits: Dodgers 32, Brewers 14Home runs: Dodgers 6, Brewers 1Innings led: Dodgers 26, Brewers 1Wins: Dodgers 4, Brewers 0“They were utterly embarrassed last year,” a rival scout said of the Brewers this week while reflecting on the Dodgers’ pennant-sealing NLCS sweep last October.“They had the best record in the National League, and they just got their a– handed to them.”Now, 12 months later, they will have a chance for redemption.On Sunday, the Dodgers will travel to Milwaukee again to open a second straight NLCS between the teams.In many ways, this year’s matchup is being played against a similar backdrop as a year ago.The Brewers are the higher-seeded team and hold home-field advantage, coming off a 103-win campaign in which they maximized their low-payroll roster. The Dodgers, however, are the clear-cut favorites, with a high-priced and star-studded core trying to add to their modern-day dynasty.Thus, this week, the California Post spoke to two rival NL scouts to ask if this year’s series could play out differently.The short answer: Yes, with both evaluators seeing a pathway for the Brewers to pull off a payback-minded upset.“It just feels like a different team [this year],” Scout 1 said.“I think a big part of this entire season for them is the redemption factor,” Scout 2 added.Ahead of Game 1 on Sunday night in Milwaukee, here are the factors that could decide who reaches the World Series:Jacob Misiorowski was part of the Brewers’ playoff push last year.
He even threw five innings of tantalizing bulk relief in a nine-strikeout effort during Game 3.This year, though, he represents that biggest difference between this Brewers squad and those of failed Octobers past.The breakout 24-year-old star is the presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner.He is expected to start Game 1 opposite Tarik Skubal.
And if Milwaukee is to challenge ...