The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves on the brink of elimination after dropping the third straight game to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. Trailing 3-0 in the best-of-seven set, the Dodgers have struggled to generate offense, batting just .146 with runners on base as they prepare to host Game 4 at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.
Wednesday’s 6-2 defeat saw the Dodgers briefly take the lead in the sixth inning, but back-to-back home runs from Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell off Blake Snell in the seventh swung momentum firmly in Milwaukee’s favor. The Brewers now need only one more win to reach the World Series, while Los Angeles faces the daunting task of winning four consecutive games.
The Dodgers’ offensive woes have been glaring after their strong NLDS showing against the Atlanta Braves, whom they defeated 3-1. The team’s low batting average with runners in scoring position has been a significant factor in their current predicament.
Padres insider Marty Caswell took a pointed jab at the Dodgers following their latest loss. Responding to a video from October 7 that resurfaced online, the clip shows Dodgers manager Dave Roberts celebrating their series-clinching win over Atlanta while telling the team, “We’re smarter, we’re better and we’re tougher.” A player in the background then adds, “And we’re dinosaurs.” Caswell’s reply on X was blunt: “The dinosaurs are one game from extinction.”
Roberts spoke after Game 3 about possible lineup changes ahead of the upcoming game against the Brewers, who plan to use a bullpen game. He admitted he had not yet decided on any adjustments, saying, “Not sure. I haven’t digested this one. You know, they’re going to run a bullpen game. So, just trying to figure out, you know, which guys want to be in there, how you kind of construct the lineup, but I haven’t thought about that one yet.”
He also emphasized the importance of the moment to his players, noting their understanding of what is at stake. Roberts pointed to the Dodgers’ ability to put together winning streaks during the regular season, mentioning they had won four straight games multiple times. “Well, they know what’s at stake, and, you know, we’ve won four in a row, you know, a number of times this year. Ten times, I think, something like that. So, But again, we got to win them all. So, that’s our only focus,” he said.
Roberts praised Dodgers fans for their support despite the disappointing result in Game 3, saying the crowd brought energy from the opening pitch and maintained their backing throughout the game.
Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ pitcher during the seventh inning collapse, made an honest admission after the game, describing the disastrous inning that cost Los Angeles dearly. However, Roberts’ comments did not reveal specific plans to address the pitching struggles moving forward.
The Dodgers face a steep climb in Game 4 as they attempt to stave off elimination. The Brewers’ bullpen strategy and the Dodgers’ ongoing offensive difficulties set the stage for a tense showdown at Dodger Stadium.
According to Yahoo Sports.
