The Dodgers are one loss away from being swept in the postseason for the first time since the 2023 NLDS against the Diamondbacks, according to Yahoo Sports and True Blue LA. Both outlets ran the same preview text. It says Los Angeles has "looked inferior in every facet of the game in this series, from situational hitting to defense, bullpen work, and so on." The Brewers can close it out in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. MLB.com's FAQ lists the broadcast as 8 ET on FS1 and FOX One. ESPN's preview frames it as Milwaukee (103-59, first in the NL Central) against Los Angeles (100-62, first in the NL West).

The series scores support the "situational hitting" complaint. The Dodgers lost Game 1 2-1 and Game 2 7-4, both in Milwaukee. They then lost Game 3 6-2 at home. That is 7 runs scored against 15 allowed across the three games.

Game 3 shows the problem most clearly. Per our box score, the Dodgers left 19 men on base, against 10 for Milwaukee. They drew four walks and had nine hits-and-walks combined with only five hits of their own, yet scored twice, both in the sixth inning. Will Smith drove in both runs, and he is hitting .074 for the postseason. Freddie Freeman (.192), Max Muncy (.190), Tommy Edman (.077) and Enrique Hernández (.091) all went hitless or close to it. Shohei Ohtani is at .182.

Milwaukee's night came from the long ball and the bullpen. Blake Snell gave up three homers in six innings, to Jackson Chourio, Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell. He took the loss and has a 4.66 ERA. Robert Gasser threw five scoreless innings, and DL Hall and Trevor Megill finished with 3.2 scoreless innings between them. Cooper Pratt had three hits for the Brewers. William Contreras, hitting .370, went 1-for-4.

The Brewers' bullpen was shakier in the middle of the game. Abner Uribe recorded one out and issued three walks, and Los Angeles still could not capitalize. That fits the sourcing's point about bullpen work and situational hitting. Los Angeles' relievers also gave up four late runs after the starter left.

If the Dodgers win Thursday, the series goes to Game 5 at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Oct. 16. Game 6 is scheduled for Milwaukee on Oct. 18.