The Milwaukee Brewers face a daunting challenge in the National League Championship Series after their 2-0 series deficit against the Los Angeles Dodgers, following a tough loss in Game 2. Having achieved the best record during the regular MLB season, the Brewers must now defy a historical trend where teams trailing 2-0 in best-of-seven series have an overwhelming 84% elimination rate. Despite the odds stacked against them, manager Pat Murphy remains optimistic, urging confidence in a team that has been underestimated throughout the season.
“Many may think we’ve been counted out, and I get that. While it’s true that a significant percentage of teams in this situation don’t advance, this team has shown resilience,” said Murphy. He acknowledges the challenge ahead, particularly with the series shifted to Los Angeles, but recalls their earlier success against the Dodgers, which included a series sweep on their home turf.
To reverse their fortunes, the Brewers must focus on three key strategies:
First, gaining early access to the Dodgers’ bullpen is critical. Historically, pitchers tend to perform worse when they face the same hitters repeatedly. The Brewers have struggled against Dodgers starters Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who collectively have allowed only one run over 17 innings with limited hits and walks. For the Brewers to have a fighting chance, they must force the Dodgers to pull their starters early and expose their bullpen, which has yet to see significant action in this series.
Second, sticking to their game plan against star players Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts is crucial. Surprisingly, both have underperformed thus far, with Ohtani managing just one hit and Betts failing to reach base in the first two games. Despite these successes in neutralizing key hitters, the Brewers have not translated this into wins, which Murphy recognizes as critical. “If I had told you the Dodgers would score only seven runs in two games, you’d expect we would have won at least one,” he remarked, highlighting the gap between performance and results.
Lastly, the Brewers need to catch some breaks to reclaim momentum in the series. This could come in various forms, from fortunate hits to strategic plays that could take advantage of the Dodgers’ mistakes. The team should also hope for an off day from Ohtani on the mound, as he balances his dual talents of pitching and hitting. Despite the difficulties of the situation, the Brewers will rely on their spirit and resilience, with the objective of winning four of the next five games.
The Milwaukee Brewers are certainly in a tough spot against the Dodgers, but with determination and strategic adjustments, they have a glimmer of hope to turn their fortunes around in the NLCS.