Meet the Big Bad Brewers

The Lineup: Pregame Edition

Thursday, October 15

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Brewers vs. Dodgers in NLCS Game 4

Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know, brought to you by David Adler. Today, the Brewers can sweep out the reigning champs — in a very un-Brewers-like way? — and the Guardians take control of the ALCS.

The Small Ball Brewers are on the verge of sweeping out the Big Bad Dodgers. 

Except, here’s the thing: They’re not ACTUALLY playing small ball. 

The Dodgers’ three-peat quest is on the brink, but NOT because the Brewers are bunting and hitting-and-running and slapping singles all over the place, which is the picture you might get in your head when you think about the Brew Crew. It’s the exact opposite. The Brewers have turned the tables on the back-to-back champs by … belting clutch home run after clutch home run.

There was Brice Turang’s game-tying oppo taco off Tarik Skubal in Game 1. William Contreras’ 436-foot moonshot in Game 2. And, last night in Game 3, Jackson Chourio’s leadoff shot and Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell’s back-to-back homers off Blake Snell.

With all those blasts — and nary a bloop to be found — the Brew Crew has taken a commanding three-games-to-none lead on the Dodgers. Tonight, Milwaukee can win the pennant and make it to the World Series for the first time since 1982. 

Mike Petriello dug up a crazy-but-true fact about how the Brewers are winning this NLCS. Of the 228 different teams to play in a League Championship Series, the 2026 Brew Crew has the single HIGHEST “three true outcome”percentage of them all.

Baseball’s three true outcomes are home runs, walks and strikeouts — they get their name because they’re the things that come down purely to the battle of pitcher vs. batter, without batted-ball luck or the defense getting involved. A lot of the time, when we think of the three true outcomes, we think about all-or-nothing power hitters. It’s the last thing you would associate with a team like the Brewers. 

And yet: Nearly half of Milwaukee’s plate appearances in this series have ended with a home run, a walk or a K. That would be the highest in LCS history. And it’s working — mainly because of, well, all the homers. The Brewers are outhomering the Dodgers 5-0 in the NLCS. 

Teams with highest three true outcome percentage in LCS

The Brewers weren’t just baseball’s best team this season because they put the ball in play and create chaos on the bases. They can do that — their reputation for playing a fun, throwback style of baseball is well earned. But this Brewers team can also outslug the big boys like the Dodgers. Right now, they’re the Big Bad Brewers. 

 

GUARDIANS TAKE CONTROL OF ALCS

Petey Halpin

Thanks to a big home run — and an even bigger bat flip — the Guardians are back in the driver’s seat in the American League Championship Series.

Cleveland took down the Rays, 3-2, in Game 3 of the ALCS this afternoon, giving them a two-games-to-one series lead. 

Petey Halpin delivered the go-ahead homer in the fifth inning … and again, you have to watch that bat flip. It might even make the list of the very best ones we’ve seen.

The top-seeded Rays now have their work cut out for them, with two more games still to come in Cleveland before they can force the ALCS back to The Trop.

Game 4 of the ALCS is scheduled for tomorrow, with the start time depending on the results of tonight’s NLCS Game 4 between the Dodgers and Brewers.

Rays-Guardians would be at 6 p.m. ET if the Dodgers force a Game 5, or at 8 p.m. ET if the Brewers complete the sweep tonight. 

EVERYTHING TO KNOW FOR NLCS GAME 4

MLB postseason bracket

Will the Brewers complete the sweep and move on to the Fall Classic? Can the Dodgers — who are moving Shohei Ohtani back into the leadoff spot with their season on the line — stay alive for at least one more day? Here’s what you need to know for NLCS Game 4 tonight. 

Brewers at Dodgers (Brewers lead series 3-0)

8 p.m. ET/7 CT/5 PT on FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One

The series so far: 

The Brewers are dominating. They’ve beaten three of the Dodgers’ four aces in Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell. They’re one win away from the Fall Classic, and a comeback now by the Dodgers would have to be historic. The 2004 Red Sox are still the only team ever to rally to win a postseason series after being down 3-0. Of course, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows that well.

Today’s pitching matchup: Shane Drohan (Brewers) vs. Tyler Glasnow (Dodgers)

Glasnow is the Dodgers’ last hope. If the Dodgers can pull out a win behind their fourth ace tonight, they at least can turn their rotation back over to Skubal and Yamamoto — neither of whom are expected to be available out of the bullpen in Game 4. The Dodgers simply have to win too many games in a row to burn their aces in relief here. 

Key storyline: Is this the night Brewers fans have been waiting for? 

Forty-four years is a long time to wait for a World Series appearance. The last time the Brewers were in the Fall Classic, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor were still leading the team. And despite Milwaukee’s eight postseason appearances in the last nine years, they have yet to win a pennant. That could all change in a few hours. 

THESE ROOKIES COULD WIN GOLD GLOVES

JJ Wetherholt

We’ve seen an uptick in rookies winning Gold Gloves over the last five years or so, and there are some good candidates this season, too.

Five rookies are among the 2026 Gold Glove Award finalists, which were announced yesterday. 

Max Ralph takes a look at those newcomersand their likelihood of taking home the hardware. The ones we personally think have the best chance? The Mets’ Carson Benge (NL right field), and the Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt (NL second base). But you can check out all five and see who has the most convincing case. 

 

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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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