The Dodgers are only one game away from securing their second straight National League pennant. It’s been an NLCS romp for the defending champs, who have the makings of a modern day dynasty. Last night, Los Angeles eked out a 3-1 victory, bringing its series lead to 3-0.
It’s a much different story for the visiting Brewers. Milwaukee will need to win four straight games, starting tonight against Shohei Ohtani. Can the two-way superstar deliver a dominant performance on the mound? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Friday’s matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles is favored (-206) over Milwaukee, with the over/under set at eight runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s contest.
Brewers vs. Dodgers prediction, preview
Ohtani has been less than impressive at the plate with a .158/.273/.368 slash line. In spite of the slugger’s lackluster performance, the Dodgers have gone 8-1 this postseason. The three-time MVP will have a chance to leave his mark on the mound tonight. Against Philadelphia in the NLDS, he tossed six innings of three-run ball while striking out nine batters.
In spite of their play in this series, the Brewers are no pushover. Owners of the best regular season record in baseball, Milwaukee will need to get its offense back on track. During the playoffs, the team is averaging only 3.13 runs over eight games. The Brew Crew has been held to one run during each of their three NLCS contests. That’s unacceptable, even against terrific Dodgers pitching.
Only two Brewers hitters have a postseason OPS above .800: Jake Bauers and Jackson Chourio. The latter of the two exited Thursday’s game early after appearing to aggravate his hamstring injury. If the outfielder is sidelined tonight, it’s a devastating blow for an already struggling offense. To make matters worse, Ohtani has never thrown against Milwaukee. That level of unfamiliarity tends to favor the pitcher.
Clearly, the visitors can’t count on scoring many runs. That makes pitching even more imperative for the Brewers. Expect manager Pat Murphy to throw the kitchen sink at this loaded Dodgers lineup. Milwaukee has done a decent job at keeping the defending champs in check on offense. LA has only scored ten total runs during this series.
After sitting out in Game 3, Jose Quintana will get the start tonight. Through 131.2 innings of work this season, the left-hander has notched a respectable 3.97 ERA. In an intense postseason environment, it makes sense that Murphy would turn to an experienced arm. Over two meetings with the Dodgers in 2025, the 36-year-old allowed five earned runs (3.75 ERA). Worth mentioning: Los Angeles owns baseball’s third-best OPS vs. left-handed pitching (.764).
Brewers vs. Dodgers pick, best bet
Going into this series, I expected the Brewers to put up a fight against the favored Dodgers. That hasn’t been the case through three games. Quintana is no slouch, but he’s not the kind of name that inspires confidence in a must-win matchup. In addition, this slumping lineup can’t afford to lose one of its best hitters in Chourio. On the road, against an electric arm in Ohtani, it’s difficult to justify backing Milwaukee.
