Brewers Sweep Defending Champion Dodgers in 2026 NLCS

The Milwaukee Brewers ended the Los Angeles Dodgers' bid for a three-peat by sweeping them in the National League Championship Series.

The Milwaukee Brewers eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers from the 2026 MLB playoffs, completing a sweep in the National League Championship Series. The defeat ended the Dodgers' attempt to win a third consecutive World Series title. Los Angeles enters the offseason with a roster that featured the oldest position-player group in baseball this season and struggled to score runs throughout October.

Shohei Ohtani’s health remains a primary concern for the Dodgers heading into 2027. Ohtani, who will be 32 next season, did not pitch after early July due to pain in his right bicep and left knee. The team faces significant free-agent departures, particularly in the bullpen, with left-hander Alex Vesia and right-handers Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, and Brusdar Graterol reaching the market. While the Dodgers have relievers Tanner Scott and Edwin Diaz under large contracts, they may look to Josue De Paula, Alex Freeland, and Dalton Rushing to integrate younger talent into the lineup.

Financial uncertainty looms over the Los Angeles front office as Major League Baseball considers a new economic model. The Dodgers currently carry eight nine-figure contracts on their payroll. ESPN reports that the team is unlikely to sign left-hander Tarik Skubal to a mega extension before December 1, as the organization awaits clarity on whether a salary cap or new luxury tax penalties will be included in the next collective bargaining agreement.