Los Angeles Dodgers (73-48) versus Milwaukee Brewers (74-47)
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers are set to renew their rivalry in a highly anticipated National League Championship Series rematch, with both clubs entering the series as two of the best teams in the National League. There is hardly anything separating them in the standings, either, with just one game between the two teams in the win-loss column as they prepare to square off once again.
Neither team, however, is entering the series playing its best baseball. The Brewers were swept by the San Diego Padres in their most recent series, while the Dodgers endured their own struggles last week, dropping seven consecutive games before finally snapping the skid with a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals. Now, both teams will look to build some momentum against one another in what could be an important series with the postseason race beginning to take shape.
This will be the second meeting between the Dodgers and Brewers this season. The two clubs first met in late May, when Los Angeles took two of three games in Milwaukee. With the Brewers now coming to Dodger Stadium and both teams separated by just one game in the standings, the rematch carries plenty of intrigue—and could provide another early preview of what a potential October showdown might look like.
Pitching Probables
Game One: Roki Sasaki (5-5, 4.54 ERA) vs Shane Drohan (LHP) (6-4, 3.87 ERA)
Game Two: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-7, 2.65 ERA) vs Robert Gasser (LHP) (3-4, 4.57 ERA)
Game Three: Justin Wrobleski (LHP) (11-4, 3.44 ERA) vs Jacob Misiorowski (11-5, 1.76 ERA)
Game Four: Tarik Skubal (LHP) (7-6, 2.93 ERA) vs Logan Henderson (6-2, 2.88 ERA)
Game Times
Game One: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Brewers.TV
Game Two: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Brewers.TV
Game Three: 4:15 PM PT, FOX
Game Four: 1:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Brewers.TV
Who’s In & Who’s Out
The Dodgers will head into their upcoming series with the Brewers still managing a lengthy injury list, but several key players are making progress toward returns. The biggest name remains Shohei Ohtani, who is dealing with left knee inflammation and right biceps discomfort.
Ohtani continued playing catch at Dodger Stadium on August 10th and 11th as he works toward a potential return to the mound in September. For now, he remains active as a hitter while the Dodgers carefully monitor his pitching progression.
Freddie Freeman is dealing with total-body soreness after taking a hard tumble into the visitors’ dugout while attempting to make a catch on August 12th. Freeman is especially sore on the right side of his body and is considered day-to-day. The Dodgers are hopeful he could return to the lineup as soon as August 13th.
On the pitching side, Tyler Glasnow is one of the closest to returning. After coming through his latest rehab outing without any issues, Glasnow is scheduled to make a four-inning, 60-pitch rehab start next, followed by a five-inning outing. If he continues progressing as expected, a return sometime this month remains possible.
Brock Stewart also took an important step forward, beginning a bullpen progression on August 10th as he works his way back from right shoulder tendinitis. He could begin facing hitters as soon as the following week.
Blake Treinen is another reliever nearing a potential return. Treinen, who was transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 11th because of right elbow inflammation, is expected to throw another live batting-practice session later this week.
A rehab assignment could follow if that session goes well, putting a September return within reach. Will Klein, meanwhile, is dealing with loose bodies in his right elbow and is hoping to begin the first steps of a throwing progression later this week. His potential return remains uncertain, but he could be an option before the end of the season.
Behind the plate, Will Smith continues to make progress from neck inflammation. He remains pain-free and is scheduled to begin taking coach’s batting practice on the field this week. Smith is targeting a September return, which would provide a significant boost to the Dodgers’ catching situation.
Dalton Rushing is also working his way back from a partial right UCL tear, though his situation is less certain. He has resumed light baseball activities, including swinging, but his ability to catch again this season is in question. The Dodgers are instead hoping they can bring him back as a hitter at some point in 2026.
The Dodgers also have several starting-pitching options working their way back through rehab assignments. Gavin Stone began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 6th after dealing with right shoulder inflammation and is expected to use nearly the full 30-day window to build back up.
Bobby Miller began his own rehab assignment with Oklahoma City on August 5th while recovering from right shoulder soreness and is also expected to take close to 30 days. Ben Casparius, meanwhile, has been on a rehab assignment since July 25th as he works back from right shoulder inflammation, with a potential return sometime this month.
Left-hander Kris Bubic, acquired by the Dodgers at the trade deadline, is also working toward a return from left shoulder soreness. Bubic began a bullpen progression August 2nd, one day before the trade, and is targeting a rehab assignment around early September.
With the Dodgers already adding Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline, Bubic could provide another left-handed option for the pitching staff if he is able to return as planned.
Finally, Brusdar Graterol and Jake Cousins remain longer-term recovery projects. Graterol is recovering from right shoulder and lower-back surgeries and does not yet have a timetable for his return. Cousins, meanwhile, continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery performed in June 2025 and could potentially become a second-half option for the Dodgers. With several pitchers potentially returning over the next month, Los Angeles could see its pitching depth significantly improve as the season moves toward September.
Day-to-day (1): Freddie Freeman
10-day IL (1): Dalton Rushing
15-day IL (2): Brock Stewart, Will Klein
60-day IL (10): Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Jake Cousins, Brusdar Graterol, Ben Casaparius, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Will Smith, Kris Bubic, Blake Treinen
The Brewers will enter their upcoming series against the Dodgers with several players either on the injured list or working their way back, though a few key pieces are making progress toward a return.
One of the more notable absences is Shortstop Cooper Pratt, who was placed on the 10-day injured list August 9th with a right hamstring strain. Pratt felt the issue during Milwaukee’s August 8th game against the Twins but initially believed he was healthy enough to play the following day. An MRI revealed the strain, and he is now expected to miss at least the remainder of August.
Outfielder Sal Frelick is further along in his recovery from a right shoulder strain. Frelick began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville and will initially serve strictly as a hitter while continuing to progress through his throwing program. He is targeting a return around mid-August.
The Brewers are also waiting on lefty JoJo Romero, who is recovering from an appendectomy. Romero threw his second bullpen session Aug. 10 in Arizona without any issues and is scheduled for additional bullpens and live batting practice before potentially beginning a rehab assignment during the week of August 17th. That puts a mid-to-late August return on the table.
RHP Joel Kuhnel is also working his way back from right rotator cuff tendinopathy after beginning a rehab assignment with Nashville on August 2nd, with a potential return sometime this month.
Infielder Jett Williams, Milwaukee’s No. 4 prospect, remains without a timetable after his left hand sprain resurfaced in his first game back with Nashville on Aug. 8. Williams exited after just one at-bat and is being sent to Arizona to meet with a specialist.
Meanwhile, Southpaw Rob Zastryzny has been sidelined by a left upper-trap strain and had his rehab assignment halted after experiencing recurring symptoms following a July 10 appearance with Nashville.
Several Brewers pitchers are dealing with much longer-term injuries. Right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff is expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing another right shoulder capsule surgery, with his return potentially pushed into 2027 or 2028.
Righty Quinn Priester also had season-ending surgery after undergoing thoracic outlet decompression in June and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2027 season.
The Brewers will also be without left-hander Brian Fitzpatrick, who underwent Tommy John surgery on July 1st after suffering a left UCL strain. His recovery is expected to extend into mid-to-late 2027. Lefty Angel Zerpa is in a similar situation after undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery in May and is not expected back until early to mid-2027.
Overall, Milwaukee has several players trending toward returns in the coming weeks, particularly Frelick, Romero, and Kuhnel, but the Brewers remain without important pitching depth and will have to navigate the Dodgers series without Pratt and potentially Williams.
10-day IL (2): Sal Frelick, Cooper Pratt
15-day IL (3): Joel Kyhnel, JoJo Romero, Brandon Woodruff
60-day IL (4): Angel Zerpa, Rob Zastyzny, Quinn Priester, Brian Fitzpatrick