LOS ANGELES, CA — How do the Dodgers stack up to the Brewers in the 2025 National League Championship Series? Two things that stand out are the considerable differences between these two organizations in payroll and their approach to the game.
The Dodgers have an estimated 2025 payroll of $396 million, whereas the Brewers have an estimated 2025 payroll of $126 million. The Dodgers’ payroll tax is higher than the entire Brewers’ payroll—big market team vs one of the biggest market teams. Hence, big-name players vs. “who are these guys?”
Brewers players share a moment together in prayer during pregame of a 2025 regular season contest – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Now that we have covered the financial differences, how do they differ in their gameplay?
The Brewers have the best overall record in baseball this season. How did they manage to do that without all the star power the Dodgers enjoy? By playing the game the old-fashioned way. They bunted more, had excellent base-running skills, and did situational hitting to move runners into scoring position.
On defense, they demonstrated excellent baseball instincts, minimizing their mistakes. They also have an old-school, no-nonsense manager in Pat Murphy who, unlike many big-league skippers, holds his players accountable for what they do on the field.
At just 21 years old, Jackson Chourio has helped lead the Brewers to back-to-back postseason appearances – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The Dodgers are a powerhouse of stars who can blow teams away like a toupee in a hurricane! Most teams have a good group of hitters from one to four in their lineups; the Dodgers extend that to six or more.
Andy Pages, from Havana, Cuba, for example, has been batting ninth of late because he has struggled a bit in the last month of the regular season. He finished the 2025 campaign second on the team in home runs to Shohei Ohtani with 27 dingers, and batted .272 with 86 RBI. The Dodgers are deep on offense.
Andy Pages, who had a quiet NLDS, could make for the difference maker in the NLCS for the Dodgers vs. Milwaukee – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
The games between these two clubs with different styles will be evident from the first game, and like any postseason from the past, it will come down to pitching. I feel they are all even with starters.
The Dodgers will go with Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Ohtani. The Brewers’ rotation counters with 2024 NL LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year, Freddy Peralta, Moca, Dominican Republic, Quinn Priester, José Quintana, Arjona, Colombia, and rookie sensation, Jacob Misiorowski.
The odds makers have the Dodgers as the favorites at around -200, which implies a roughly 66.7% chance of winning the series.
The Dodgers are attempting to become the first MLB team to win the World Series in back to back seasons since the New York Yankees in 1998-2000 who won three straight Fall Classics – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
What is upside down here in this NLCS is that the big city, big star-studded, big payroll Dodgers will find it challenging to make those gamblers happy.
This series should go seven games because the no-name Brewers are for real, and my pick is them returning to the World Series after a 43-year hiatus—Game 1 on Monday, October 13th—first pitch at 8:08 PM ET/5:08 PM PT in Milwaukee on TBS. Enjoy it all!
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