Brewers on the Brink of World Series
The Milwaukee Brewers are on the verge of reaching the World Series for the first time in 44 years, holding a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Milwaukee entered Thursday afternoon as overwhelming favorites to advance, thanks to their three straight wins. The Dodgers, who possess the most expensive roster in baseball, have been unable to contain the Brewers' offense. Milwaukee's payroll ranked just 19th this season, making their run even more surprising.[S1][S2]
The Brewers' front office has built a contender through savvy moves rather than big spending. They traded away top pitchers Freddy Peralta in 2025, Devin Williams to the Yankees, and Corbin Burnes to the Orioles. Their notable offseason acquisitions were backup catcher Gary Sanchez, Angel Zerpa, Jake Woodford, and a trade that brought David Hamilton, Shane Drohan, and Kyle Harrison from the Red Sox for infielder Caleb Durbin and other players. During the season, they added Dustin May, JoJo Romero, and reliever Antonio Senzatela, while watching Tarik Skubal go to the Dodgers.[S1]
Defying the Contact Hitting Narrative
Many experienced baseball analysts have attributed Milwaukee's success to a contact-oriented approach, arguing that putting the ball in play and avoiding strikeouts is the key to winning. However, the statistics from the NLCS tell a different story. In Game 1, the Dodgers struck out eight times and put the ball in play on 23 of their 31 at-bats, while the Brewers struck out 13 times and put the ball in play only 13 times in 26 at-bats. Despite making less contact, Milwaukee won 2-1.[S1]
The pattern continued in Games 2 and 3. In Game 2, the Dodgers struck out nine times and the Brewers ten, yet Milwaukee won 7-4, with the only home run coming from William Contreras. In Game 3, the Brewers struck out 12 times in 35 at-bats against Blake Snell and the Dodgers bullpen, while Los Angeles struck out eight times in 32 at-bats. The Dodgers put the ball in play 24 times to Milwaukee's 23, but the Brewers won 6-2 by hitting three home runs while Los Angeles hit none. Over three games, Milwaukee has struck out 35 times (nearly 12 per game) compared to the Dodgers' 25 (just over eight per game), yet holds a 5-0 home run advantage.[S1]
Quality of Contact vs. Outcomes
A deeper look at the quality of contact reveals a striking discrepancy. According to a post on X by user Dubs Only Sports, the Dodgers have recorded 29 hard-hit balls (95 mph or above) in the series, resulting in 12 hits and no home runs. The Brewers have just 21 hard-hit balls, but those have produced 11 hits and five home runs. On soft contact (under 95 mph), the Dodgers have put 40 balls in play for only three hits, a .075 batting average, while Milwaukee has 42 soft-contact balls in play for 16 hits and a .381 batting average. This suggests that outcomes, not just contact quality, have favored the Brewers.[S1]
