The same thing that makes the National League Wild Card Series such a thrill for the Milwaukee Brewers is the scary part for the Dodgers.
“It doesn’t really matter how you get here,” Brewers infielder Jedd Gyorko said. “Everyone’s starting the same now so we’ve got just as good a chance as anybody.”
The Brewers got here by losing four of their final six games, finishing with a sub-.500 record for the season (29-31), and clinching the eighth and final NL playoff seed Sunday by virtue of an obscure tiebreaker format. The Dodgers got here by going 43-17, the highest winning percentage by a National League team since 1909.
The first team to win two games at Dodger Stadium advances to the next round.
Wednesday’s Game 1 and Thursday’s Game 2 will start at 7 p.m. and air nationally on ESPN. Game 3, if necessary, will begin Friday at 3:30 and air on ESPN.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell, whose starting rotation endured a rash of injuries down the stretch, on Tuesday named left-handed pitcher Brent Suter his Game 1 starter. Walker Buehler will start for the Dodgers. Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff will oppose Clayton Kershaw in Game 2. Neither Counsell or Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has revealed his pitching plans for Game 3.
The Brewers had a rotation ace in Corbin Burnes. The right-hander went 4-1 with a 2.11 earned-run average in nine starts during the regular season, then suffered an oblique injury Thursday. Burnes isn’t expected to pitch in the series.
Milwaukee also had a veteran pitcher with first-hand knowledge of the opponent in Brett Anderson. The left-hander exited his final start of the season Sunday with a blister on his left index finger. His availability for the series is unknown.
“We’re on Plan B,” Counsell said, “but it’s a good Plan B.”
Suter started four games, relieved 12, and finished 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA. He threw a season-high 59 pitches across four scoreless innings in his most recent outing Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Woodruff went 3-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 13 starts. He was the only Brewers pitcher who threw enough innings (73 2/3) to qualify for the ERA title.
The lack of reliable starters means the focus will shift to the Brewers’ vaunted bullpen, which should be a familiar theme for the Dodgers. Counsell deployed his relief pitchers so liberally during their head-to-head meeting in the 2018 National League Championship Series, no individual pitcher threw more than 10 innings across the seven games for Milwaukee.
Game 5 starter Wade Miley was removed after facing one batter. The tactic was controversial enough that MLB now requires pitchers to face a minimum of three batters before a mid-inning pitching change.
“Quality matters more than trying to trick people,” Counsell said. “That’s not what we’re trying to do. Brent’s unique and he offers some unique challenges. He’s faced some of their guys. Whenever you’re facing bullpens, there’s rarely going to be a lot of familiarity in bullpens if you haven’t played a team a bunch. (The Dodgers) have some arms we’re unfamiliar with as well.”
Rookie right-hander Devin Williams is the top reliever to watch. He has allowed one run in 27 innings (0.33 ERA) and struck out 53 of the 100 batters he faced. Josh Hader (13 saves in 15 opportunities) is the closer.
The most familiar names in the Brewers’ lineup underperformed relative to expectations.
Left fielder Christian Yelich collected one hit in his first 27 at-bats of the season and finished with a .205 average. Shortstop Orlando Arcia, who hit two home runs in the 2018 NLCS, hit only five home runs this season. Designated hitter Ryan Braun batted .233, and the Brewers hit a paltry .223 as a team.
Two lineup regulars – first baseman/DH Daniel Vogelbach and outfielder Ben Gamel – are dealing with quadriceps injuries. Their availability is unclear.
For most of the Brewers’ healthy hitters, their paltry batting lines are a mystery.
“Going into spring training I felt good, I felt confident,” said second baseman Keston Hiura who racked up nearly twice as many strikeouts (85) as hits (46). “Ever since, it’s kind of a weird year.
“Myself and a lot of people … are treating it as a new season starting (Wednesday).”
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