Dodgers on the ropes as Brewers go up 2-0 — NL West roundup

The Los Angeles Dodgers are suddenly in a deep hole. Monday’s 7-4 loss in Milwaukee leaves them down 2-0 in the National League Championship Series as the matchup shifts to California, and their bid for a three-peat is under real threat.

Dodgers fall again, Ohtani’s role in question

In Game 2, the Brewers once again had the answers late. As reported by La Presse, William Contreras erased a Dodgers lead with a fifth-inning home run, then pushed Milwaukee ahead for good with a run-scoring single an inning later. The Brewers now hold a 2-0 stranglehold on the series.

MLB Trade Rumors reports that, in the wake of this rough start, the Dodgers are weighing the possibility of keeping Shohei Ohtani out of the lineup for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium. Even the idea of sitting their marquee star underscores how urgently Los Angeles, a 100-62 team in the regular season, feels the need to jolt its offense and reset the series.

Per MLB Trade Rumors, Milwaukee had already grabbed control with a tight 2-1 win in Game 1, a low-scoring opener that still represented a better offensive output than any game the Brewers had managed in last year’s NLCS. Brice Turang’s big swing against Skubal in that contest highlighted Milwaukee’s ability to flip a game with one plate appearance.

Around the rest of the NL West

While the Dodgers fight to stay alive, the rest of the NL West is already into offseason planning. The San Diego Padres come off a strong 91-71 campaign but aren’t part of this year’s NLCS picture. The Arizona Diamondbacks (86-76) turned in a solid, competitive season without catching the Dodgers at the top.

Farther down the standings, it was a tougher year. The San Francisco Giants finished 65-97, well out of contention, and the Colorado Rockies endured a 58-104 season. For Arizona, San Diego, San Francisco and Colorado alike, the focus now shifts to roster moves and adjustments needed to close the gap on the Dodgers and Padres in 2027.