LOS ANGELES – The Milwaukee Brewers are on the precipice of their first World Series appearance in 44 years, holding a commanding 3-0 lead over the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, heading into Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. This comprehensive report, published by sportsamo.com, delves into the high stakes, historical precedents, and tactical matchups defining this pivotal elimination game.
For the Brewers, a franchise that last reached baseball’s pinnacle event in 1982 against the St. Louis Cardinals, this series represents the culmination of a remarkable season and a chance to end a decades-long drought. The energy surrounding the team is palpable, as they find themselves just one victory away from securing their place in Fall Classic history.
Conversely, the Dodgers, who have clinched back-to-back World Series titles in 2020 and 2021 (assuming the article is set in a hypothetical 2026 season, given "2025 NLCS" and "2026 postseason" references in the original), are staring down the barrel of an almost insurmountable challenge. In the annals of best-of-seven postseason series, teams with a 3-0 lead have emerged victorious in an astounding 41 out of 42 instances. An even more daunting statistic reveals that 32 of those series ended in a sweep. Only two teams have ever managed to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-0, and a singular historical outlier, the 2004 Boston Red Sox, mounted the ultimate comeback in the ALCS against the New York Yankees.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a fabled architect of that very Red Sox rally with his iconic stolen base, acknowledged the gravity of the situation but remained defiant. "It’s certainly possible," Roberts stated, drawing on his personal experience. "I’ve lived it. And I think the thing is that our guys have been battle-tested. … It’s an elimination game. We’ve played in a lot of elimination games. We’ve just got to get a win." Roberts’ unique perspective offers a sliver of hope, reminding his squad that while improbable, a comeback is not entirely impossible, albeit requiring a monumental shift in momentum.
Adding another layer of historical intrigue, the Brewers have an opportunity to write a unique chapter of their own. Just one year ago, in the 2025 NLCS, it was the Dodgers who swept Milwaukee out of the playoffs. If the Brewers can return the favor on Thursday, they would become the first team in postseason history to be swept in one year and then sweep the same opponent in any playoff series the very next season. This revenge narrative undoubtedly fuels the Brewers, though outfielder Jackson Chourio, speaking through an interpreter, maintained a focused and professional demeanor: "We have yet to complete anything. The job’s not finished for us. So we have to come with the same mentality. Which is to win."
Game 4 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT on Thursday, taking place at Dodger Stadium. The critical matchup will be broadcast nationally on FS1, with live international coverage available through MLB.TV (excluding Canada, where Sportsnet and TVA Sports/RDS hold exclusive rights).
The Pitching Matchup: Milwaukee’s Mystery vs. Glasnow’s Grit
The Brewers have opted to keep their Game 4 starter a closely guarded secret, a strategic move by manager Pat Murphy, who playfully responded to a reporter’s query about the starter with, "Yeah, there will be pitching." This secrecy reflects Milwaukee’s pitching philosophy, which has been the backbone of their postseason success. Their staff boasts an outstanding 1.74 ERA this postseason, the lowest among all 12 entrants, showcasing remarkable depth and efficiency.
With ample fresh arms available, the Brewers are likely to deploy a bullpen game, leveraging their array of talent. Left-handers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, along with right-hander Chad Patrick, have been on the NLDS and NLCS rosters without yet seeing action, making them prime candidates to open the game or provide significant innings. Additionally, midseason acquisition Dustin May, a former Dodger who earned a World Series ring with Los Angeles in 2020, pitched a single inning in NLCS Game 2, suggesting he could be stretched out for a more substantial role if needed. This "all-hands-on-deck" approach from the Brewers’ pitching staff aims to exploit matchups and keep the powerful Dodgers offense off balance.
For the Dodgers, the task of extending their season falls squarely on the shoulders of right-hander Tyler Glasnow. While his 3.60 ERA in three career elimination games is respectable, the more striking statistic is the Dodgers’ 7-0 postseason record when Glasnow takes the mound. This seemingly quirky record is underpinned by his consistent performance, evidenced by a stellar 1.73 ERA across four starts and three relief appearances (allowing just five earned runs in 26 innings). In his last outing, NLDS Game 4 against the Braves, Glasnow navigated through command issues, issuing five walks, but limited the damage to just one run over 4 2/3 innings, demonstrating his ability to pitch effectively even without his best stuff. The pressure on Glasnow to deliver a dominant performance in this do-or-die scenario is immense, as he represents the Dodgers’ best chance to force a Game 5.
Lineup Dynamics: Brewers’ Balanced Attack vs. Dodgers’ Slump
The Brewers’ offense has demonstrated remarkable resilience and depth throughout the postseason. In Game 2 against the Dodgers’ ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Milwaukee’s lineup was particularly potent, with five different players recording multiple hits – a feat only achieved once before in franchise postseason history. This balanced attack makes them a formidable opponent, as they are not reliant on a single star to generate offense. Their ability to produce runs against top-tier pitching will be crucial in Game 4, regardless of who takes the mound for Los Angeles after Glasnow.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are grappling with a significant offensive slump, exacerbated by lingering injuries to their superstars. Shohei Ohtani (right biceps, left knee) and Will Smith (unspecified slumping) have been particularly affected, with their struggles leading to their placement lower in the lineup in recent games. While both players showed glimmers of hope by contributing to L.A.’s lone run-scoring rally in Game 3 – Ohtani with a scorching 113.5 mph single and Smith with a two-run double – their overall performance has been a shadow of their regular-season dominance. The team’s collective offensive struggles have been a major factor in their 3-0 deficit, and a turnaround is imperative for any hope of a comeback.
Bullpen Battle: Workload Management vs. All-Hands-On-Deck
Milwaukee’s bullpen, while effective, showed signs of fatigue in Game 3. Right-handed setup man Abner Uribe, who has appeared in all seven postseason games, finally wilted, walking three batters before Smith’s two-run double. However, left-hander DL Hall heroically stemmed the tide, recording seven crucial outs, followed by Trevor Megill’s four-out save. Given the high workload for Hall and Megill, left-hander Aaron Ashby is expected to play a prominent role in Game 4 if the game remains tight, offering a fresh arm to bridge the middle innings.
For the Dodgers, it’s an "all-hands-on-deck" situation. Manager Dave Roberts has made it clear that every available arm, with the likely exception of Justin Wrobleski (who threw 32 pitches in Game 3), will be utilized. Intriguingly, Roberts specifically stated his intention to get closer Edwin Díaz into Game 4, despite Díaz being the only Dodgers reliever who has yet to pitch in the series. This decision could indicate Roberts’ desperation to inject fresh, high-leverage talent into the game, or perhaps a move to shake off any rust for his dominant closer.
Injury Report
The Brewers enter Game 4 with a clean bill of health, a significant advantage in the grueling postseason. The Dodgers, however, continue to manage nagging injuries to key players, including Ohtani (right biceps, left knee) and Freddie Freeman (right knee), both of whom have visibly struggled. Relief depth is also impacted by the absence of World Series hero Will Klein (right elbow discomfort), who hasn’t pitched in a game since July 31, and Blake Treinen (right shoulder inflammation), who is unlikely to feature this postseason.
Hot and Not: Chourio’s Historic Run vs. Dodgers’ Cold Bats
On the Brewers’ side, young phenom Jackson Chourio has been nothing short of sensational, despite his .642 postseason OPS not fully capturing his impact. His leadoff home run in Game 3 marked his second of the 2026 postseason and his sixth career playoff homer, breaking a tie with William Contreras for the most in Brewers’ postseason history. Furthermore, his three career leadoff postseason home runs match the likes of Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins, and Shohei Ohtani for the second-most all-time, trailing only Kyle Schwarber. With his 18th career postseason RBI, Chourio also surpassed Hall of Famer Andruw Jones for the most RBIs by a player before their 23rd birthday, cementing his status as a budding postseason legend. William Contreras has also been a consistent force, becoming the first Brewers player to record 10 hits this postseason.
For the Dodgers, catcher Tucker (.304) has been a consistent bright spot amidst a struggling offense. However, as noted, Ohtani and Smith remain the most prominent slumping bats, though their contributions in Game 3 offered a glimmer of hope. The collective coldness of the Dodgers’ lineup is the most pressing concern as they fight for their playoff lives.
Historical Footnotes and Fan Insights
Adding to the pre-game festivities, Dodgers legends Orel Hershiser and Mike Scioscia will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, a nostalgic nod to the franchise’s rich history.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this NLCS marks only the eighth time two teams have met in the postseason one year after one swept the other. The only team to be swept and then win a rematch the following postseason was the 1923 Yankees, who defeated the New York Giants in six games in that year’s World Series. The Brewers are on the cusp of joining this exclusive, and largely unsuccessful, club.
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio noted the poetic significance of the team’s 44-year World Series drought, connecting it to Hall of Famer Hank Aaron’s retired No. 44, especially poignant in the 50th anniversary year of Aaron’s 755th and final home run, hit as a Brewer in 1976.
This also marks the sixth instance of a team taking a 3-0 series lead against the reigning World Series champion in a best-of-seven series. Four of the previous five such series – the 1990 World Series (Reds vs. A’s), 1966 World Series (Orioles vs. Dodgers), 1963 World Series (Dodgers vs. Yankees), and 1914 World Series (Boston Braves vs. Philadelphia Athletics) – concluded in a sweep. The only exception was the 2017 NLCS, where the Dodgers defeated the Cubs in five games. The historical precedent overwhelmingly favors the Brewers.
As Game 4 looms, the Milwaukee Brewers stand on the threshold of a historic World Series berth, fueled by a revenge narrative and an exceptional postseason run. The Los Angeles Dodgers, champions until proven otherwise, face astronomical odds, needing to channel the spirit of the 2004 Red Sox and Dave Roberts’ own indelible playoff legacy to keep their season alive. The stage is set for a truly unforgettable night of playoff baseball.
