After a sweep at the hands of the Dodgers in the 2025 NLCS, the Brewers are looking to reverse the sweep in 2026, as they have a 3-0 series lead heading into Thursday night’s Game 4 at Dodger Stadium.
To get to this point, the Brewers have displayed a balanced (and surprisingly homer-heavy) attack from the offense while the pitching staff, anchored by the bullpen, has kept them in the game until the offense can put it away.
After a 2-1 win in Sunday’s series opener, the Brewers won a back-and-forth affair in Game 2 by a final of 7-4, with five perfect innings from the bullpen putting an exclamation point on a 2-0 series lead. Last night was more of the same — after a leadoff homer by Jackson Chourio, the Brewers couldn’t get to Blake Snell in the middle innings. Abner Uribe had a bit of a misstep in the bottom of the sixth, allowing a two-run double by Will Smith, but DL Hall shut down that rally before Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell retook the lead with a pair of homers in the seventh, as Milwaukee ultimately won 6-2.
Tonight, it’ll be lefty Shane Drohan getting the ball for Milwaukee in his first career postseason appearance and first time on the mound since the regular season finale on September 27. For the year, Drohan went 7-5 with a 4.19 ERA, 3.73 FIP, and 125 strikeouts over 124 2/3 innings, splitting time between the rotation (19 starts) and bullpen (14 relief appearances). He made three appearances (one start) against the Dodgers this year, totaling 9 2/3 innings with six runs allowed (five earned) on six hits and five walks, striking out 12.
Drohan figures to be out there for one turn through the order, with Dustin May, Aaron Ashby, and the rest of the bullpen likely to take the bulk of the work.
Opposite Drohan is L.A.’s No. 4 starter (also their fourth All-Star starter), Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow, in his 11th MLB season, has dealt with injuries throughout his career, and 2026 was no exception. He made 13 regular season starts this year, going 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA, 2.74 FIP, and 98 strikeouts across 74 innings. He then went 4 2/3 innings in the NLDS last week against the Braves, allowing one run on one hit and five walks, striking out five in the Dodgers’ series-clinching 4-1 victory.
Glasnow has made nine career regular season appearances (five starts) against the Brewers, going 0-3 with a 4.55 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. He also pitched against them in last year’s NLCS, going 5 2/3 innings with one run allowed and eight strikeouts in a no-decision.
Behind Drohan, Pat Murphy is rolling out another matchup-heavy lineup. Chourio is in his usual leadoff spot, followed by Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Bauers. Christian Yelich is back at DH after Andrew Vaughn got the start last night, with Garrett Mitchell batting sixth. Cooper Pratt, Sal Frelick, and David Hamilton round things out.
Los Angeles has moved Shohei Ohtani back into the leadoff spot after he batted sixth last night. He’s followed by Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith. Kyle Tucker bats fifth and Teoscar Hernández bats sixth. The bottom third of the order features Miguel Rojas, Andy Pages, and Kiké Hernández.
First pitch is slated for just after 7:00 p.m. CT on FS1 and FOX One, as well as the Brewers Radio Network.
