Where to Watch
Probable Pitchers
Lineups
Los Angeles Dodgers
| # | Player | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani | DH |
| 2 | Mookie Betts | SS |
| 3 | Freddie Freeman | 1B |
| 4 | Will Smith | C |
| 5 | Kyle Tucker | RF |
| 6 | Teoscar Hernández | LF |
| 7 | Miguel Rojas | 2B |
| 8 | Andy Pages | CF |
| 9 | Enrique Hernández | 3B |
Preview
The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, October 15 in an NL Championship Series game at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 8:00 PM ET on FS1. Tyler Glasnow gets the ball for Los Angeles in what is a high-stakes postseason clash under the Chavez Ravine lights. The Brewers have not announced a confirmed starter. With Shohei Ohtani leading off and a loaded Dodgers lineup behind him, Los Angeles will look to leverage every advantage in front of a charged home crowd.
Tyler Glasnow Leads the Dodgers in NLCS Pitching Matchup
Glasnow is Los Angeles's named starter for Thursday. The right-hander is a legitimate difference-maker in a playoff rotation — long, overpowering, and capable of missing bats deep into a game. His presence in an elimination-round start gives the Dodgers a genuine ace-caliber arm at the top of their staff when the margin for error is at its smallest.
Milwaukee has not confirmed a starter for this game. That uncertainty adds an interesting wrinkle for the Dodgers lineup to manage, particularly early in the contest when the opposing pitcher's identity and arsenal can shape approach and pitch selection.
Dodgers Lineup Features Ohtani, Betts, Freeman at the Top
Manager Dave Roberts has constructed a formidable postseason order. Shohei Ohtani leads off at DH, placing arguably the most dangerous hitter in baseball at the front of the lineup where he can see the most plate appearances. Mookie Betts follows at shortstop batting second, with Freddie Freeman slotted third at first base. Will Smith anchors the four-hole at catcher.
The lineup in full:
- Shohei Ohtani — DH
- Mookie Betts — SS
- Freddie Freeman — 1B
- Will Smith — C
- Kyle Tucker — RF
- Teoscar Hernández — LF
- Miguel Rojas — 2B
- Andy Pages — CF
- Enrique Hernández — 3B
Kyle Tucker in the five-hole gives the Dodgers a dangerous right-handed threat to protect Freeman, while Teoscar Hernández batting sixth keeps the pressure on opposing pitching well into the order. This is one of the deepest lineups in the postseason field, and it is built to punish mistakes.
Keys to Watch in Thursday's NLCS Game
- Glasnow's command early: If he establishes his fastball and curveball in the first two innings, Milwaukee's lineup will be playing from behind all night.
- Milwaukee's unnamed starter: The Dodgers' hitters will need to adjust quickly to whoever the Brewers send to the mound. An early read on pitch mix will be critical.
- Ohtani's on-base presence: When Ohtani reaches base in front of Betts and Freeman, the Dodgers manufacture pressure in bunches. That sequence is where Los Angeles is most dangerous.
- Bullpen depth: Late-inning leverage is amplified in the LCS. How each manager deploys relievers after the sixth inning could determine the final outcome.
Prediction
With Glasnow on the mound and the full Dodgers lineup intact at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles has a clear structural edge in this matchup. The home crowd at UNIQLO Field will be loud from the first pitch, and a lineup this deep is built to produce runs against any opposition. Until Milwaukee names a starter and demonstrates the ability to slow Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman, the Dodgers are the team to back on Thursday night. Dodgers win.