The Dodgers, MLB’s reigning back-to-back champs, are on the ropes, staring down a 3-0 deficit against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2026 NLCS. This isn’t just a tough series; L.A. is potentially facing their first playoff series loss since the 2023 NLDS, and the vibe is, well, *bad*.
The Champs Look Old and Broken, Seriously
Let’s be real, the Dodgers look absolutely gassed. Our CBS Sports experts aren’t holding back either. Mike Axisa said it feels like they “look old and broken,” a sentiment echoed by Kate Feldman, who thinks “the Dodgers just look broken” and their offense is definitely “not on the verge of a breakout.” It’s tough to watch, especially when they were just World Series champs two years in a row. Their power at the plate? Thoroughly lacking. Feldman even says manager Dave Roberts is “managing like he’s in a movie rather than trying to reach the World Series.” When the experts are dropping lines like that, you know it’s grim. Even Axisa’s prediction for a Dodgers win in Game 4 sounds more like a hopeful fantasy, picturing them “fight like crazy to scratch across just a few runs, then Edwin Díaz will leave the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Something like that.” That’s not exactly a vote of confidence for the defending champs.
Brewers Are Doing Everything Right and It’s No Fluke
On the flip side, the Brewers are absolutely cooking, and their 3-0 lead is no accident. This team was baseball’s best in the regular season, and they’ve proven it by being better than L.A. in literally “every area of this series.” Feldman sums it up: “the Brewers are doing everything right.” They’re just one win away from their second-ever World Series appearance, and more importantly, their first National League pennant in franchise history. Yeah, they snagged an American League pennant back in 1982 before the Fall Classic, but this is a whole different beast. Dayn Perry from CBS Sports isn’t a huge believer in momentum in baseball, but even he admits a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series is “perhaps an exception.” The stats back him up: teams up 3-0 historically in MLB are a crushing 32-10 in Game 4. Our guy Matt Snyder thinks the Dodgers might score some runs, but he’s already seen “enough of the Brewers bouncing back every single time the Dodgers score to believe that this is truly their year.” The Brewers are simply relentless.
Game 4: Do the Dodgers Have Anything Left?
So, can the Brewers close it out tonight, Thursday, in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, or can the Dodgers rally and live to fight another day? The Dodgers are rolling out their “ace-ish” Tyler Glasnow, which sounds promising, but the Brewers’ pitching plan is “a bit uncertain and bullpen-heavy.” Still, three of our four experts are picking Milwaukee to get the job done. Perry, Feldman, and Snyder all see the Brewers winning tonight. It really comes down to whether the Dodgers can find *any* power, *any* spark, or if the Brewers’ undeniable dominance this series just continues. If the Dodgers manage to extend the series, they’d want to get the ball back to Tarik Skubal in Game 5. But first, they have to survive Game 4, and honestly, the Brewers are looking like they’re ready to make history.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply