Christian Yelich did not start against left-handed pitchers in Games 1 and 3 of the National League Championship Series, despite being named the Milwaukee Brewers’ team captain before the 2026 regular season ended. Manager Pat Murphy opted to sit the 34-year-old out of the lineup when lefties Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell took the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Yelich’s absence in the starting lineup against left-handed pitching sparked debate over whether the Brewers were disrespecting their 2018 NL MVP and three-time All-Star. However, the decision aligns with Yelich’s performance trends this season. He struggled throughout the regular season, appearing in just 118 games and hitting .235 with a .692 OPS overall. His numbers against lefties were particularly weak, posting a .212 batting average with a .279 on-base percentage and a .331 slugging percentage. Against right-handed pitchers, Yelich fared better, hitting .244/.327/.395.
Murphy’s choice reflects those splits. Yelich started Game 2 of the NLCS as the designated hitter against right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and contributed two hits and two RBIs in a 7–4 Brewers victory. Milwaukee also won Game 1 without Yelich in the lineup, 2–1. The Brewers hope to replicate that success in Game 3, which featured Snell on the mound, keeping Yelich on the bench again.
The captaincy bestowed on Yelich before the end of the 2026 season recognizes his leadership and long-standing role within the organization since 2018. But his diminished production and matchup struggles have forced the Brewers to adjust their lineup strategy in the postseason. Yelich’s place in the team remains secure, but the focus is on winning rather than preserving tradition at the expense of tactical decisions.
It remains unconfirmed whether Yelich will appear as a pinch hitter in Game 3, but given his impact in Game 2, the Brewers may turn to him off the bench. For now, Milwaukee’s approach is clear: deploy Yelich when the numbers favor him and lean on other players against left-handed pitching.
According to Yahoo Sports.
