Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. Another year, another NLCS. What happens this time? Let\u2019s find out together.<\/p>\n
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By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service<\/a>, which include arbitration and a class action waiver. You agree that we and our third-party vendors may collect and use your information, including through cookies, pixels and similar technologies, for the purposes set forth in our Privacy Policy<\/a> such as personalizing your experience and ads. <\/p>\n Game 1 thoughts<\/p>\n \u2014As always, this is written as the game is going on, and I don\u2019t go back and change my opinions to match the outcome of the game, so I might write something in the second inning that looks dumb considering how the game ended. Baseball!<\/p>\n \u2014I\u2019m predicting Dodgers in six. They lose today. Win tomorrow. Win two of three at home, win Game 6 in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n \u2014Dodgers won the past two World Series. Brewers were last in the World Series in 1982, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.<\/p>\n \u2014I\u2019m not a big fan of the Fox pregame show.<\/p>\n \u2014Jacob Misiorowski can throw the ball 104 mph. I once threw a baseball 104 … feet.<\/p>\n \u2014His nickname is \u201cThe Miz,\u201d but we all know there is only one Miz<\/a>.<\/p>\n First inning<\/p>\n \u2014Good to see Joe Davis back.<\/p>\n \u2014There\u2019s something about Ken Rosenthal that I find disquieting. Of course, I\u2019m sure some people say the same about me.<\/p>\n \u2014Nice play by Jake Bauers to open the game.<\/p>\n \u2014Freddie Freeman seems like he says \u201cdon\u2019t like that two-strike pitch, so I\u2019ll foul it off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014And Will Smith\u2018s struggles continue. But, the Dodgers are making contact.<\/p>\n \u2014The Dodgers seem to have a lot of PitchCom problems.<\/p>\n \u2014Two strikeouts for Skubal, 15 pitches. No strikeouts for Misiorowski, 12 pitches.<\/p>\n Second inning<\/p>\n \u2014Opponents are still pitching to Shohei Ohtani as if he is full-strength Ohtani.<\/p>\n \u2014Andy Pages does it again. He does not look intimidated by any situation. Dodgers 1, Brewers 0.<\/p>\n \u2014Great at-bat by Kyle Tucker. He has really been what they expected for the past six weeks. Already 40 pitches for Misiorowski.<\/p>\n \u2014It would be really nice to get at least one more run here. Bases loaded, one out.<\/p>\n \u2014Kik\u00e9 grounds into a double play. More Clark Kent than Superman there. That could come back to haunt the Dodgers later.<\/p>\n \u2014Tarik Skubal looks really good so far.<\/p>\n \u2014As soon as I wrote that, he gives up a double. Sorry.<\/p>\n \u2014Skubal has very wide open eyes. He looks perpetually astonished. Skubal: 29 pitches. Misiorowski: 47.<\/p>\n Third inning<\/p>\n \u2014Dodgers waste a leadoff single by Mookie Betts. This could be important later.<\/p>\n \u2014I got a lot of emails during this game disagreeing with me about John Smoltz, saying he talks way too much. I agree (I wrote that), but what he says is often insightful. He just needs to edit things down in his brain before it reaches his mouth.<\/p>\n Fourth inning<\/p>\n \u2014A leadoff single by Teoscar. Will they waste this one? Insurance runs would be nice.<\/p>\n \u2014No one has ever successfully explained a balk call. I think the umpiring crew decides before a game, \u201cWe need to call a balk today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014And the Dodgers can\u2019t cash in. This could be important later.<\/p>\n \u2014Misiorowski has made 85 pitches through four, so he probably has one more inning left in him.<\/p>\n \u2014And now it\u2019s tied. Dodgers 1, Brewers 1. By the way, in tribute to my old boss, Mike James: The game is not tied, the score is tied.<\/p>\n \u2014It\u2019s hard to see from the center-field camera. Stupid fireworks. What about those of us with asthma? First-world problems.<\/p>\n \u2014Dodgers are down to their last challenge! For some reason I don\u2019t find that as stressful as many others do.<\/p>\n \u2014Don\u2019t Brice Turang and Jake Bauers realize they aren\u2019t supposed to hit left-handers well? Come on guys, get with the program.<\/p>\n \u2014And a double play ends the inning. <\/p>\n \u2014You know that swing Ohtani has in the New Balance commercial? That\u2019s the swing he is missing. Maybe study that ad.<\/p>\n \u2014Things I don\u2019t need to see during a game while watching with my grandchildren: Ads for horror movies (like \u201cOther Mommy.\u201d) And that Sydney Sweeney ad.<\/p>\n \u2014By the way, I need all you kids to get off my lawn. Darn neighborhood rapscallions.<\/p>\n Fifth inning<\/p>\n \u2014That will be it for Misiorowski. 4 1\/3 innings, five hits, three walks. Didn\u2019t have his best stuff, but he battled. Seems like you should have more than one run when you get eight batters on base in 4 1\/3.<\/p>\n \u2014It is funny, though, to hear everyone praise the ace after he just went 4 1\/3. I always think back to Fernando Valenzuela in Game 3 of the 1981 World Series. He pitched a complete game despite not having his best stuff, throwing 147 pitches, giving up nine hits and walking seven while defeating the Yankees, 5-4. Now that was battling without your best stuff.<\/p>\n \u2014Another double play. Dodgers don\u2019t get a left on base that inning, but really they did.<\/p>\n \u2014Hey, a bunt! I thought those weren\u2019t allowed anymore because they were a waste of an out.<\/p>\n \u2014And the Brewers immediately cash in, something the Dodgers haven\u2019t been able to do. Brewers 2, Dodgers 1.<\/p>\n \u2014Skubal won\u2019t last much longer. <\/p>\n \u2014Gift hit for Jackson Chourio.<\/p>\n \u2014Turang walked to load the bases. I can\u2019t believe Skubal is still in the game.<\/p>\n \u2014And Skubal escaped the jam. Dodgers are lucky to be trailing by only one.<\/p>\n Sixth inning<\/p>\n \u2014Ohtani has become Bill Russell as a hitter.<\/p>\n \u2014One thing the Dodgers do that is bothersome: When they fall behind, they seem to abandon their plan to make the pitcher work.<\/p>\n \u2014Max Muncy with a hard single. The most underrated player on the team this season.<\/p>\n \u2014And Pages strikes out. Another chance wasted.<\/p>\n \u2014Alex Vesia is great. <\/p>\n Seventh inning<\/p>\n \u2014It didn\u2019t work out, but the Dodgers were less swing happy that inning.<\/p>\n \u2014I find Brewers fans far less annoying than Braves fans.<\/p>\n \u2014The five franchises to never win a World Series: Brewers, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays.<\/p>\n \u2014I wrote that before Fox put up the graphic with the same info. Really.<\/p>\n \u2014Evan Phillips strikes out the side.<\/p>\n Eighth inning<\/p>\n \u2014And the Dodgers strand another runner. <\/p>\n \u2014Another bunt! Anarchy!<\/p>\n \u2014First and second, one out. Can the Brewers cash in against Tanner Scott?<\/p>\n \u2014Intentionally walking the bases loaded is a gutsy move. <\/p>\n \u2014But it pays off.<\/p>\n Ninth inning<\/p>\n \u2014Muncy, Pages and Tucker against Trevor Megill.<\/p>\n \u2014Muncy pops out.<\/p>\n \u2014Pages flies out.<\/p>\n \u2014Tucker walks. Good at-bat.<\/p>\n \u2014Can Josue De Paula, at 21 years old, be a Game 1 hero? (As former colleague Bob Cuomo would say, \u201cHero? How many lives did he save?\u201d)<\/p>\n \u2014De Paula walks. He feels no pressure ever. What a batting eye for one so young.<\/p>\n \u2014Betts flied out. One final blown chance by the Dodgers.<\/p>\n \u2014I should point out that the Dodgers were seventh in the majors this season in batting average with runners in scoring position at .262. The Brewers were second, .276. The Dodgers were seventh with two out and runners in scoring position at .241. The Brewers were ninth at .239.<\/p>\n Final score: Brewers 2, Dodgers 1.<\/p>\n Nothing to worry about. The Dodgers have trailed 1-0 before and won, and led 1-0 and lost. This is why they play seven games. We\u2019ll be back tomorrow.<\/p>\n Poll results<\/p>\n We asked, \u201cWho will win the NLCS?\u201d<\/p>\n After 11,784 votes, the results\u201d<\/p>\n Dodgers in six, 51.3% Up next<\/p>\n Monday: Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto) at Milwaukee (Logan Henderson), 2 p.m., Fox\/FS1\/Fox Deportes\/Fox One<\/p>\n Wednesday at Dodgers, 5 p.m., Fox\/FS1\/Fox Deportes\/Fox One<\/p>\n Thursday at Dodgers, 6 p.m., Fox\/FS1\/Fox Deportes\/Fox One<\/p>\n *Friday at Dodgers, 6 p.m., Fox\/FS1\/Fox Deportes\/Fox One<\/p>\n *Sunday at Milwaukee, 5 p.m., Fox\/FS1\/Fox Deportes\/Fox One<\/p>\n *Monday, Oct. 19 at Milwaukee, 5 p.m., Fox\/FS1\/Fox Deportes\/Fox One<\/p>\n All times Pacific<\/p>\n *-if necessary<\/p>\n In case you missed it<\/p>\n Plaschke: Dodgers could be in big trouble if Brewers steal their October swagger<\/a><\/p>\n Brewers get just enough off Tarik Skubal, draw first blood in NLCS Game 1 win<\/a><\/p>\n Dodgers Debate NLCS Game 1: Great pitching but no offense<\/a><\/p>\n Dodgers add Justin Wrobleski to NLCS roster, keep Miguel Rojas and drop Hyeseong Kim<\/a><\/p>\n Shaikin: \u2018We responded to the moment\u2019: Fred Claire\u2019s lasting lesson for a former young assistant<\/a><\/p>\n Dodgers confident Shohei Ohtani will break out of his slump against Brewers<\/a><\/p>\n Shaikin: Here\u2019s why the Dodgers-Brewers NLCS might have been decided in August<\/a><\/p>\n By not overextending itself vs. Braves, Dodgers\u2019 rotation primed for success vs. Brewers<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018I just want chaos.\u2019 Don\u2019t expect Dodgers to sweep Brewers again in NLCS<\/a><\/p>\n And finally<\/p>\n Shohei Ohtani hits three home runs, strikes out 10 in Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS against the Brewers. Watch and listen here.<\/a> <\/p>\n Until next time …<\/p>\n Have a comment or something you\u2019d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com.<\/a> To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. 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Dodgers in five, 18.4%
Dodgers in seven, 15.8%
Brewers in six, 7.5%
Brewers in seven, 3.2%
Dodgers in four, 2.2%
Brewers in five, 1.4%
Brewers in four, 0.2%<\/p>\n