ドジャースはNLCS第1戦で敗れ、得点力不足と打線の組み方に課題が浮上した。 ブルワーズの継投パターンは予測しやすく、ドジャースは序盤で得点して流れを変える必要がある。 第2戦では山本由伸が重要な役割を担い、打線の再構築も勝利の鍵となる。
Game 1 Exposed Two Major Problems
The Dodgers’ NLCS Game 1 loss exposed two problems they need to address quickly: their bats are silent in key spots and their lineup set-up is wrong. Milwaukee’s predictable but effective bullpen plan could be the Brewers’ weakness that they need to exploit.
Brice Turang’s 4th-inning homer and Luis Lara’s 5th-inning RBI were enough to beat the Dodgers, while Jackson Chourio went 2-for-4 and Andrew Vaughn went 1-for-3 with a double. The Dodgers’ only run came on an Andy Pages single that drove Shohei Ohtani home.
The Dodgers actually outhit the Brewers 7-6, but the main difference was what happened in the moments that mattered and the two extra-base hits the Brewers had.
A Missed Opportunity in the Second Inning
The Dodgers let a golden opportunity slip away in the second inning after drawing two walks and loading the bases. Kiké Hernández, one of the team’s most proven postseason performers, was in position to deliver another clutch hit, but this time the moment got away from him. The Dodgers still forced Milwaukee’s ace to throw 35 pitches in the inning, making him work for every out.
Skubal Pitched Well, but One Sequence Cost Him
Tarik Skubal pitched very well for a pitcher who lost the game, but the walk that allowed Garrett Mitchell to reach base, followed by Cooper Pratt’s sacrifice bunt, was the key difference. Luis Lara then singled Mitchell home.
Milwaukee’s Heavy Bullpen Reliance
Looking back over the season, the Milwaukee Brewers leaned heavily on a core bullpen group that included Aaron Ashby (75 games), Trevor Megill (63 games), Abner Uribe (61 games), and DL Hall (47 games).
The relievers have particular roles, and those same roles could become a weakness that might be exploited as the series goes on. It’s not a bad strategy, but its predictability makes it vulnerable. Hall is the middle-inning reliever, Uribe is the high-leverage setup man, Ashby is the multi-inning wonder, and Megill is the closer.
They’ve been great, and the plan has worked for them throughout the season, but it could eventually be the reason the Milwaukee Brewers fall a little short against the Dodgers.
Predictability Could Become a Weakness
Being inflexible and heavily reliant on the same players makes the Brewers predictable, and the Dodgers can study them closely because they already know when and how they’re going to be used. They know Ashby will be called upon for more than one inning if the starters get into trouble. They know Megill will close the game. They know Hall will be used somewhere in between. And they know Uribe will be in the mix.
This leaves the Dodgers with a clear starting point for what to work on next: study the relievers closely and score early against the starting pitching staff.
Put Shohei Ohtani Back in the Leadoff Spot
Shohei Ohtani doesn’t look completely comfortable at the plate or quite like himself. Even so, he went 1-for-3 with a walk and scored his team’s only run. His recent performance is exactly why batting him cleanup isn’t ideal. After hitting leadoff for so long, he should return to the leadoff spot.
Freddie Freeman: Keep Him Second
Second, keep Freeman in the second spot, as he’s versatile enough to handle any lineup change.
Mookie Betts: Move Him to Third
Mookie Betts should bat 3rd. In 23 games this season in the 3rd spot, he appeared more efficient, going 23-for-89 and batting .258/.347/.494 with an .841 OPS, five homers, and 17 RBIs. One could argue that he should be the leadoff hitter because, in six games there this season, he went 9-for-16 with four doubles, two homers, and six RBIs. However, the sample is so small that his performance over a longer span is a more reliable representation of his actual ability.
Kyle Tucker: The Cleanup Hitter
The 4th hitter should be Kyle Tucker. I know, I know. People are going to say, “Well, he’s been struggling all year.” But at his core, Kyle Tucker has been a consistently strong, if quiet, performer, hitting .294/.400/.471 in the playoffs. If he’s not collecting a hit or two, he’s getting on base.
Kiké Hernández: A Clutch Bat in the Fifth Spot
In the 5th spot, the Dodgers need to consider putting Kiké Hernández. His history of clutch performances is proven. He can do a lot of damage with a runner in scoring position, and the four hitters ahead of him have a higher probability of reaching base because they all have great on-base percentages.
Max Muncy: Power in the Sixth Spot
Max Muncy should bat 6th. While hitting .250 in the postseason, he has hit three solo homers, which is a shame. Batting 6th in the new lineup order should give him opportunities to do major damage. With a slugging percentage of .813, he has shown major power lately.
Andy Pages: A Table-Setter at Seventh
The seventh spot belongs to Andy Pages. His .278/.316/.278 slash line shows that he’s making contact and reaching base at a respectable rate, but he hasn’t provided much power. Even so, he could still help turn the lineup over by getting an inning started at the bottom of the order.
Will Smith: Less Pressure in the Eighth Spot
The 8th spot should go to Will Smith. Though usually a great hitter, he’s been struggling quite a bit. In 19 at-bats, he’s hitting .053/.053/.053. That’s just terrible, and he’s obviously better than that. Moving down the lineup will give him a cooling-off period without putting too much pressure on him.
Teoscar Hernández: Power at the Bottom
And 9th, Teoscar Hernández. He’s still a power threat and still a great player, just a little unpredictable. With a slash line of .250/.250/.400, he’s an average hitter with average walk numbers and a bat that can drive the ball a long way. If he gets a hit at the bottom of the lineup, it could pave the way for the first five hitters to do major damage.
The Ideal Dodgers Lineup
1. Shohei Ohtani
2. Freddie Freeman
3. Mookie Betts
4. Kyle Tucker
5. Kiké Hernandez
6. Max Muncy
7. Andy Pages
8. Will Smith
9. Teoscar Hernandez
Key Takeaways
· The Dodgers must score earlier instead of allowing Milwaukee to dictate the game with its established bullpen roles.
· Shohei Ohtani should return to the leadoff spot, with Mookie Betts batting third and Kyle Tucker hitting cleanup.
· Yoshinobu Yamamoto must give the Dodgers length in Game 2 and reduce the pressure on their own bullpen.
Yamamoto Faces a Major Game 2 Test
Today is Game 2 of the NLCS, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound. The proven ace has a huge task to fulfill. He’s done amazing things in the past and that’s his legend, but this game could be as equally important as the game 7 of the world series in 2025 against the Blue Jays.
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