The Dodgers' Quest for a Three-Peat
The 2026 MLB playoffs start Tuesday, and the central question is whether any team can prevent the Los Angeles Dodgers from winning a third consecutive World Series. No club has achieved that since the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000. The Dodgers have repeatedly found unlikely heroes in October, from Andy Pages's leaping catch to Roki Sasaki's transition from starter to closer to Miguel Rojas's Game 7 home run. Even with more roster holes than in the past two seasons, their depth and history of unexpected contributions make them the team to beat.[S1]
However, this Dodgers roster has more weaknesses than the previous two championship teams. The defense has declined, Kyle Tucker has produced at a league-average level, and Shohei Ohtani's wRC+ is 30 percent worse than in his first two seasons with the club, plus he will not pitch in October. The bullpen posted a league-average ERA in the second half and lacks the converted starters that previously filled gaps. While the Dodgers have proven they can win without home-field advantage or a bye, the cracks in their armor are more visible this year.[S1]
Milwaukee Brewers: Clutch Hitting vs. Power Deficit
Milwaukee's case for a title rests on its exceptional performance with runners in scoring position. The Brewers rank in the top five in batting average, BABIP, and on-base percentage, and first in wRC+ in such situations this season. This is not new: they have out-executed the league in high-leverage moments for most of the 2020s. A 4-1 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday illustrated their efficiency, as William Contreras delivered a two-run single in Milwaukee's only opportunity while the Phillies went 0-for-12 with RISP. The Brewers are challenging the analytics belief that clutch hitting is random and difficult to replicate.[S1]
The counterargument is Milwaukee's persistent lack of power. Since the start of the 2023 season, the Brewers rank 26th in home runs and 25th in isolated power. That deficiency has been the defining flaw in each of their recent playoff appearances, and they have not come close to a World Series. While there is no single formula for winning in October, the ability to hit home runs against elite pitching is a crucial skill that Milwaukee has lacked.[S1]
Atlanta Braves: Offensive Pedigree vs. Second-Half Collapse
Atlanta's offense has been streaky, but its veteran core of Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, and Ozzie Albies broke run-scoring records only a few seasons ago. The Braves possess a dominant starter in Chris Sale and a strong back end of the bullpen, but they will need more offense to make a deep run. Flipping the switch is not easy, yet this group has the talent and October experience to do it. They are better than their slash lines suggest, and we have seen them slug in the postseason before.[S1]
The problem is that the same offense has cratered since the trade deadline. Atlanta ranks in the bottom six across MLB in wRC+ during that period and has the worst OBP and walk rate of any playoff team. Three everyday regulars who have been part of the core throughout the 2020s have not produced at all since the deadline, with Olson among them. That second-half collapse raises serious doubts about whether the Braves can score enough to support their pitching.[S1]
