Fans react to Blake Snell’s surprising start vs Brewers in NLCS Game 3

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A Milwaukee Brewers baseball player drops his bat and runs toward first base during the National League Championship Series, Image 2 shows Blake Snell in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform on the field
Jackson Chourio swings at the first pitch he sees and hits a solo home run in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Jackson Chourio wasted no time by getting after Blake Snell in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Chourio saw a 97.6 mph four-seam fastball on the first pitch of the game and blasted it 391 feet over the fence in right-center Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

Jackson Chourio blasts a solo shot in the first inning to give the Brewers an early 1-0 lead over the Dodgers. Getty Images

Chourio’s solo shot gave the Brewers an early lead in the first inning. Snell rebounded immediately, using 12 pitches to strike out the next three batters.

After MLB posted Chourio’s solo shot on X, baseball fans were quick to praise him and troll the Dodgers.

DraftKings Sports posted a photo of the character Aragorn from “Lord of The Rings” drawing his sword as he is set to battle an entire army on his own and captioned the post, “Jackson Chourio taking on the Dodgers.”

Budweiser also commented on the post and wrote, “HE WAS READY TO PLAY TONIGHT.”

Through 10 at-bats in the NLCS, Chourio is batting .300 against the Dodgers.

Jackson Chourio swings at the first pitch and launches a leadoff home run in the first inning against the Dodgers. Getty Images

@totalismlb commented on the post and took a shot at Snell by writing, “106 off the bat on the very first pitch he sees, snell’s night already a mess.”

Snell’s pitch was also being compared to a meatball sub, as @SleeperMLB wrote, “Blake Snell with a meatball sub ��.”

Before Chourio’s statement home run, Snell told Dylan Hernandez of the California Post that Game 3 was going to be a redemption night for him after a disappointing performance in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Braves.

Blake Snell walking off the mound after giving up a solo home run to Jackson Chourio in the first inning on Wednesday night. AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Other fans decided to take a shot at play-by-play broadcaster Joe Davis, who serves as a Dodgers commentator during the regular season.

@dandrige posted a gif of SpongeBob slowly dragging his knees while looking visibly exhausted and commented, “Joe Davis doesn’t even know our players names.”

@TheMes_Age went on to question Davis‘ call on the play as they wrote, “Is Joe Davis OK? Totally missed that 1st pitch HR…!”

Dodgers player says MLB broadcasts are airing 'soft porn ads'

In a social media post, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Alex Call said Major League Baseball playoffs broadcasts have featured "soft porn ads" and that "parents shouldn't have to worry about this."

Call is not on the Dodgers' active roster for the NL Championship Series – but is with the team – and posted on X about how his son wanted to watch a game with him and that the commercials left him trying to "justify ... half-naked women" on his screen.

Advertisements featuring Megan Fox and Sydney Sweeney have been in heavy rotation during this year's playoff broadcasts across multiple platforms.

Call appeared in 88 games for the Dodgers in the 2026 regular season after playing seven postseason games in 2025.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers player says MLB broadcasts are airing 'soft porn ads'

Jackson Chourio hits leadoff home run to open NLCS Game 3 vs Dodgers

That didn't take long.

Jackson Chourio opened Game 3 of the National League Championship Series with the loudest statement possible, ambushing Los Angeles Dodgers starter Blake Snell on the first pitch of the game. He sent it deep to right field for a no-doubt leadoff home run into the pavilion seats to give the Milwaukee Brewers an early 1-0 lead.

Snell began the game by trying to establish his fastball but left it just over the plate. Chourio, who hit a career-high 25 homers this season, didn't miss it.

Snell bounced back immediately and struck out Brice Turang, William Contreras and Andrew Vaughn to retire the side, but the Dodgers are now immediately playing catch-up in a crucial Game 3.

The Dodgers bats have struggled to produce all series, which brings pressure when the team is down 2-0 in the series.

Chourio just added even more before a single Dodgers batter stepped up to the plate.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jackson Chourio hits leadoff home run to open NLCS Game 3 vs Dodgers

Dodgers turn ‘Ruining Baseball’ outrage into a pricey playoff cocktail

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows High-angle view of Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium before game three of the NLCS between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, showing the empty stands and the field, Image 2 shows The Los Angeles Dodgers mascot greets fans at Dodger Stadium, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Dodgers fans cheer and wave a team flag in the stands during the NLCS

The Dodgers have their backs against the wall after losing two straight games to the Brewers.

But that doesn’t mean Dodgers fans can’t enjoy all the special items on the postseason menu for any remaining home games for LA. At Dodger Stadium, the “Ruining Baseball” margarita is being sold for $25 throughout the NLCS.

The liquid libation features a mango and jalapeño margarita mix with tequila and a chile mango slice. It’s one the many exclusive items being sold this October at Dodger Stadium.

General view before game three of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs between Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Los Angeles Dodgers mascot greets fans at the NLCS Game 3 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Los Angeles Dodgers fans cheer prior to game three of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the Milwaukee Brewers at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Wednesday’s game featured a quiet crowd at Dodger Stadium and it certainly didn’t look sold out when Blake Snell threw out the first pitch at 5 p.m. PT. The two-time Cy Young winner allowed a leadoff home run to Brewers star Jackson Chourio, which likely put a damper an already lowly home crowd.

While the Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions, their chances of even reaching the Fall Classic this year are quickly decreasing. If the Dodgers can manage at least two wins in LA, then the series may look different heading back to Milwaukee for Games 6 and 7.

But until then, the Dodgers look down and out.

Dodgers fans inexplicably offered free beer at NLCS as ticket prices hit rock bottom

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Two women in white shirts and baseball caps serve drinks from a Budweiser tent to a line of customers, with a giant inflatable beer bottle standing nearby, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers player stands in the dugout holding a glove during the NLCS

The Los Angeles Dodgers are about to host Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday night, and they are stuck in a 0-2 hole.

After Monday night’s 7-4 loss to the Brewers, ticket prices for Game 3 have plummeted down in price and the team is trying every measure possible to draw fans in.

Including by giving away free adult beverages.

Dodgers fans lining up for free beer during Game 3 of the NLCS. Edward Lewis of The California Post

According to Edward Lewis of The Post, Dodgers fans were lining up near a red Budweiser tent that was located in the concourse of Dodger Stadium and were being given free beer.

Along with the free beverage, fans were also receiving free blue Dodgers-Budweiser koozies as part of the marketing promotion.

The line for the free items extended well off into the concourse as more fans were seen patiently lining up as they were discovering what was being given away.

Before the two teams played a single game in the NLCS, the cost for Game 3 was originally listed at $144.

But as Milwaukee has been shocking the world, putting together back-to-back wins, the cost for Game 3 isn’t as high anymore.

Dodgers left-handed pitcher Blake Snell gets the start against the Brewers in Game 3 of the NLCS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

On Wednesday, Front Office Sports reported that ticket prices dropped by 47% after Monday’s 7-4 loss and are now costing fans $97 to get into the stadium.

After sweeping the Brewers in the NLCS last year, the Dodgers have their backs against the wall and could find themselves in desperation mode if they fall one game shy of being eliminated.

Left-handed pitcher Blake Snell will get the start for the Dodgers on Wednesday night, and he too is looking for redemption after tossing only 3 ⅔ innings on 90 pitches in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.

Aside from Snell, four time MVP Shohei Ohtani, who has been struggling throughout the postseason, will hit in the No. 6 spot of the Dodgers lineup after the team was reportedly considering benching him following Monday night’s game.

SnakePit Post-season GDT, #14

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: A Los Angeles Dodgers groundscrew worker paints the postseason logo on the field before the Milwaukee Brewers workout prior to the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on October 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday’s 3-1 win for the Rays, leveled their series at 1-1. It also did not help the offensive slump which has been true for much of the post-season. It chipped another four points off the collective playoff OPS, which is now down to .629. We’re already the lowest since the beginning of the wild-card era in 1995. Fifteen more points and it’ll match the 1983 figure. This has been reflected in a lack of people crossing home-plate. Teams have averaged only 3.47 runs per game. That’s also the lowest in the wild-card era, though we don’t get to go back quite so far: the 1991 post-season managed 3.42, while the previous season was all the way down at 3.18.

Of course, in those days, there was only three series, so outliers were more likely. There were only 14 games in that 1990 post-season, both the ALCS and the World Series finishing in 4-0 sweeps. This year, there have already been more than twice as many. 29 all told, between the four wild-card rounds, the four Division Series, and the four games in the Championship Series. The all-time mark, unsurprisingly, is the 2020 playoffs, when there were 53 games in total needed to determine the champion. If MLB get their way, that record might be challenged under the next CBA, if they shift games from the regular season into the post-season.

Anyway, the NLCS continues, with the Brewers looking to move to the brink of the World Series!

  • Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers (2-0): 5:00 pm, FS1

NLCS Game 3 Open Thread

Oct 12, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning in game two of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Technically speaking, this game is not a “must win” for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Down 2-0 in a best-of-seven gives, the back-to-back champs still have a tiny room for error, and they are back in the friendly confines of Chavez Ravine, where they went 51-33 during the regular season. No one is going to be putting them out to pasture just yet.

That said, it is entirely possible that they have simply come up against MLB’s best team in the 2026 Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers led the league in wins, runs scored, and run differential this season. The Dodgers were close behind in each of those metrics, but just like they were chasing the Brewers for the NL’s number one seed during the final two months of the season, they seem to be a beat behind in the first two games of this series.

Shohei Ohtani’s struggles are not a small part of the story here. He’s 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in this series. This follows a nightmarish September for him in which he was injured and then underperforming. He is probably still hurt quite badly. At the same time, the rest of the lineup has also struggled. They have one extra-base hit through two games, and have gone 1-f0r-10 with runners in scoring position.

Brewers at Dodgers, 8:00 p.m., FS1

Brewers lead series 2-0
LHP Robert Gasser (5-5, 3.87 ERA) vs. LHP Blake Snell (4-1, 1.90 ERA)

How long will Snell stick around in this game? As long as he is effective. He last pitched on October 4 against the Braves. That day he worked 3.2 innings and allowed one run while walking five and striking out five. The lefty has never been known for his longevity, so if he gets through the order twice the Dodgers have to consider it a win.

Gasser worked four innings and allowed one run to the Padres in Game 4 of the NLDS, his most recent outing. He ended the regular season on a run of allowing four earned runs over his final four starts (22.2 innings). Similar to Snell, they will hope to get him through an order twice, and then turn to the bullpen.

Open Thread Brewers @ Dodgers

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 12: A general view of signage prior to game two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Only one game today. Two games tomorrow, but the Rays/Guardians game has been moved to 1:00 Eastern to avoid expected bad weather. I don’t know about how it is where you live, but if we expect bad weather tomorrow evening, we could get bad weather anytime between tonight and a week from next Thursday. But perhaps weather comes when predicted in Cleveland.

Anyway, the Brewers are up 2-0. A win tonight would make me very happy.

Today’s lineups, with Ohtani batting 6th:

Today’s Lineups

BREWERSDODGERS
Jackson Chourio – LFMookie Betts – SS
Brice Turang – 2BFreddie Freeman – 1B
William Contreras – CTeoscar Hernandez – LF
Andrew Vaughn – DHKyle Tucker – RF
Jake Bauers – 1BAndy Pages – CF
Garrett Mitchell – CFShohei Ohtani – DH
Cooper Pratt – SSWill Smith – C
Luis Lara – RFMiguel Rojas – 3B
Joey Ortiz – 3BTommy Edman – 2B
Robert Gasser – LHPBlake Snell – LHP

I won’t be in the thread today. We bowl on Wednesday nights….which I still find hard to say. But my name is on a bowling trophy. Not that I’m any good at it, but because they have a weird way of scoring you against your average, and since I had never bowled, it was easy to improve. Where the ones that have bowled for years have a much harder time beating their average.

Thankfully there are TVs where we bowl. And beer.

Yeah, more than you need to know.

Go Brewers go.

NLCS Game Discussion for Dodgers vs Brewers Wednesday

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats during Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Dodgers return home with their collective backs against the wall as the Brewers head west with a 2-0 NLCS lead. Blake Snell gets the start for the Dodgers in game 3 while the Brewers will put their trust in Robert Gasser. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm central time with the game broadcast being handled by Fox/FS1.

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Brewers stun Dodgers with back-to-back homers and take 3-0 lead in NLCS

Brewers stun Dodgers with back-to-back homers and take 3-0 lead in NLCS originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell hit back-to-back homers off Blake Snell to regain the lead in the seventh inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 on Wednesday to take a 3-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers had just taken a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth before getting stunned. The loss pushed the two-time defending World Series champions to the brink of elimination. They had only trailed 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series once previously in franchise history, getting swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series.

Game 4 is Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where the Brewers can become the first major league club to complete a postseason sweep after getting swept by that same opponent in the previous postseason. Los Angeles took all four games against Milwaukee in the NLCS last year.

The only team in big league history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a postseason series was the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees.

Coming into the seventh, Snell had retired 14 batters in a row. The first pitch of the game thrown by the two-time Cy Young Award winner hit for a home run by Jackson Chourio, and his last pitch was Mitchell’s solo shot.

Andrew Vaughn drew a seven-pitch walk to open the inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Christian Yelich. Bauers followed with a 412-foot shot to right field on the 11th pitch of the at-bat for a 3-2 lead as most of Milwaukee’s dugout came onto the field to celebrate. Mitchell was next and his drive traveled 428 feet to right-center, chasing Snell.

It was the latest relentless plate appearance for Bauers, who drew a 12-pitch walk from Yoshinobu Yamamoto that helped the Brewers go ahead early in Game 3.

Milwaukee, which has never beaten the Dodgers in three previous playoff series, is chasing its second pennant and first in the National League. The Brewers were in the American League when they reached their only World Series, a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.

Snell gave up four runs and four hits in six innings, struck out nine and walked two.

The Brewers extended the lead to 5-2 in the eighth on Justin Wrobleski’s wild pitch that scored Brice Turang, who reached on an infield single and advanced to third on William Contreras’ single. They added another run on Joey Ortiz’s two-strike RBI single in the ninth.

The offensively starved Dodgers took their first lead, 2-1, on Will Smith’s two-run double off reliever Abner Uribe in the sixth.

Uribe followed rookie starter Robert Gasser and he loaded the bases on walks to Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Shohei Ohtani. Smith, who was 1 for 25 in the playoffs, doubled off the left-center fence for his first hit of the NLCS.

DL Hall took over from Uribe and stranded runners at second and third by striking out pinch-hitter Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman.

Hall allowed one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings to improve to 3-0 in these playoffs. Trevor Megill got four outs for his second save of the series and fourth this postseason.

The Dodgers played from behind again after the 22-year-old Chourio connected for his third career leadoff homer as fans were still heading to their seats.

After that, Mitchell walked and Cooper Pratt singled in the second before Snell retired 14 in a row — six on strikeouts — before getting hammered in the seventh.

The Dodgers had runners on base in all but three innings, but couldn’t get enough across. They have yet to homer in the NLCS.

Ohtani was 1 for 2 with a walk while hitting sixth in the order, the lowest he’s batted since joining the Dodgers three years ago.

Brewers stun Dodgers with back-to-back homers and take 3-0 lead in NLCS

Brewers stun Dodgers with back-to-back homers and take 3-0 lead in NLCS originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell hit back-to-back homers off Blake Snell to regain the lead in the seventh inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 on Wednesday to take a 3-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers had just taken a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth before getting stunned. The loss pushed the two-time defending World Series champions to the brink of elimination. They had only trailed 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series once previously in franchise history, getting swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series.

Game 4 is Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where the Brewers can become the first major league club to complete a postseason sweep after getting swept by that same opponent in the previous postseason. Los Angeles took all four games against Milwaukee in the NLCS last year.

The only team in big league history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a postseason series was the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees.

Coming into the seventh, Snell had retired 14 batters in a row. The first pitch of the game thrown by the two-time Cy Young Award winner hit for a home run by Jackson Chourio, and his last pitch was Mitchell’s solo shot.

Andrew Vaughn drew a seven-pitch walk to open the inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Christian Yelich. Bauers followed with a 412-foot shot to right field on the 11th pitch of the at-bat for a 3-2 lead as most of Milwaukee’s dugout came onto the field to celebrate. Mitchell was next and his drive traveled 428 feet to right-center, chasing Snell.

It was the latest relentless plate appearance for Bauers, who drew a 12-pitch walk from Yoshinobu Yamamoto that helped the Brewers go ahead early in Game 3.

Milwaukee, which has never beaten the Dodgers in three previous playoff series, is chasing its second pennant and first in the National League. The Brewers were in the American League when they reached their only World Series, a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.

Snell gave up four runs and four hits in six innings, struck out nine and walked two.

The Brewers extended the lead to 5-2 in the eighth on Justin Wrobleski’s wild pitch that scored Brice Turang, who reached on an infield single and advanced to third on William Contreras’ single. They added another run on Joey Ortiz’s two-strike RBI single in the ninth.

The offensively starved Dodgers took their first lead, 2-1, on Will Smith’s two-run double off reliever Abner Uribe in the sixth.

Uribe followed rookie starter Robert Gasser and he loaded the bases on walks to Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Shohei Ohtani. Smith, who was 1 for 25 in the playoffs, doubled off the left-center fence for his first hit of the NLCS.

DL Hall took over from Uribe and stranded runners at second and third by striking out pinch-hitter Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman.

Hall allowed one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings to improve to 3-0 in these playoffs. Trevor Megill got four outs for his second save of the series and fourth this postseason.

The Dodgers played from behind again after the 22-year-old Chourio connected for his third career leadoff homer as fans were still heading to their seats.

After that, Mitchell walked and Cooper Pratt singled in the second before Snell retired 14 in a row — six on strikeouts — before getting hammered in the seventh.

The Dodgers had runners on base in all but three innings, but couldn’t get enough across. They have yet to homer in the NLCS.

Ohtani was 1 for 2 with a walk while hitting sixth in the order, the lowest he’s batted since joining the Dodgers three years ago.

NLCS Gamethread: 10/14/2026

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 12: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a two-run single in the third inning during Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It’s been a busy day for the Phillies, but there is an NLCS game tonight.

Let’s talk about it.

NLCS Game 3 gamethread: Brewers at Dodgers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays tied up at a game apiece and taking an off day to move the series to Cleveland, attention shifts back to the National League fully on Wednesday night.

The Dodgers are in trouble. With Shohei Ohtani presumably battling injuries and entirely ineffective at the plate over the past few months, the supposed game destroying superpower is in a lot of trouble. An otherwise aging lineup has had nothing to offer Brewers pitching through the first two games of the series. They need to turn things around immediately, but they’ve already sent both Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound in the series.

Instead of their aces, their hopes will have to rest on Blake Snell’s shoulders. The southpaw is still a high end strikeout artist capable of pitching like a true ace in short bursts, but his tendency to lose control and give up tons of walks and get knocked out early makes him a real wild card to pin the Dodgers hopes on. Of course, their bullpen is still excellent. They just have to get them a lead to defend. We’ll see if home cooking starts to turn the tide tonight, and whether Snell has another gem in him.

As for the Brewers, they’re certainly in the driver’s seat, but the longer the series goes on, the more their rotation depth could be exposed. They need to keep the pressure on the Dodgers and look to knock them out as fast as possible.

This one gets underway from Dodgers Stadium at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.

LHP Robert Gasser (0-0, 2.25 ERA) gets the start for Milwaukee against LHP Blake Snell (0-0, 2.45 ERA).

Mookie Betts could be the answer to the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani problem

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts speaks during a press conference, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits a single against the Milwaukee Brewers during game two of the MLB National League Championship Series

Before the Dodgers became Shohei Ohtani’s team, they were Mookie Betts’ team.

Manager Dave Roberts used to say that as Betts went, the Dodgers went.

Betts was the best player on the 2020 championship team. He finished in the top five in National League MVP voting three of his first four seasons with the Dodgers.

Now, with the Dodgers trailing the Brewers in the National League Championship Series and unable to count on a physically-limited Ohtani to jumpstart their offense, Betts will have to turn back the clock.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts speaks during a press conference before Game 3 of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the Milwaukee Brewers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Dodgers scored only once in the first game of the NLCS and each of the four runs they scored in the second game was the result of an error or wild pitch by the Brewers, but Betts can’t be faulted for the lack of run production.

Betts, who replaced Ohtani as the leadoff hitter last month while the four-time MVP was on the injured list, was 2-for-7 through the first two games of the NLCS. 

He reached base four times in nine plate appearances.

“Mookie’s at-bats at the top, and what he’s done over the last couple months has been very consistent,” Roberts said. “It’s at-bat quality at the highest level.”

The effect of those at-bats on the Dodgers’ other hitters was particularly obvious in a victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of their NL Division Series.

In his first at-bat against Braves ace Chris Sale, Betts laid off a slider that just missed the lower outside corner of the plate to work the count full. On the next pitch Betts reached base on an infield single.

“Really just trying to have good at-bats and try to not have a bunch of empty one-out flyouts,” Betts said.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts hits a single against the Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning in Game 2. Tannen Maury/UPI/Shutterstock

The Dodgers forced Sale to throw 24 pitches in the first inning. By the end of the third inning, Sale’s pitch count was already at 69. In the fourth inning, the Dodgers struck, with home runs by Kiké Hernández and Freddie Freeman moving them in front, 3-0.

The Dodgers went on to win the game, 3-1, and Betts finished with two hits. 

“When you’re getting into a playoff series and you get that first hitter seeing pitches, it sets the tone for the rest of the lineup, and also for that starting pitcher that it’s going to be a grindy day,” Roberts said.

Against the Brewers, the Dodgers face an entirely different kind of challenge. The strength of the Brewers is their bullpen.

“I don’t know that it’s super imperative for us to run up the pitch counts or anything because the back end of their bullpen is arguably better than everybody on the team,” Betts said. “Getting to them isn’t necessarily a huge success.”

Unless Cy Young Award favorite Jacob Misiorowski is pitching for the Brewers, the Dodgers’ prime scoring opportunities to score could be against their starting pitchers.

“Really scoring runs when you can,” Betts said.

Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides into home plate to score a run in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2. Getty Images

Betts described the Dodgers as being in a good headspace.

“Nobody is really panicking or anything,” he said. “Obviously we know it’s a tough task. It’s a really good ball club over there. We just have to start one game, one pitch at a time.”

Betts said he didn’t see a reason for the team to be discouraged.

“It’s not like we’re playing really bad,” he said. “I think we’re just not getting the hits that we need to really explode as an offense. One hit can kind of lead to two and then kind of keep us going.”

The Dodgers were also in trouble in each of their last two World Series runs – they were behind two-games-to-one against the San Diego Padres in their best-of-five NL Division Series in 2024; and they trailed three games to two against the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series last year.

“I think just having that experience, that’s kind of what gives us encouragement,” Betts said. “Being that we’ve been here before and we got out of it keeps us in a really good head space.

“Obviously, every year is different, but the same rules apply. We’ve got to just keep playing the game, and that’s really it.”

How Mary Hart became Los Angeles Dodgers superfan, went viral in 2018

The Los Angeles Dodgers have countless celebrity fans. But Mary Hart stands above them all.

The former "Entertainment Tonight" host has been a longtime fan and season ticket holder of the Dodgers. This season, the defending champions marched into the National League Championship Series.

The Milwaukee Brewers have had Front Row Amy in the, well, front row of their historic season. They are up 2-0 on the Dodgers in the series and, if they oust Los Angeles, will reach only their second World Series in franchise history.

Shohei Ohtani has been struggling this postseason and starts Wednesday's game at a career-low sixth in the batting order. His teammate Mookie Betts said he can relate to having a slump, especially after breaking his hand in 2024.

Betts was on the other side of the diamond when Hart went viral in the 2018 World Series for cheering on her team against the Boston Red Sox. Now, Betts and the Dodgers attempt a comeback in a bid to reach, and win, their third consecutive World Series.

Why did Mary Hart go viral during Dodgers' 2018 World Series?

Mary Hart cheered on the Dodgers throughout the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, even attending the first two games with her husband, Burt Sugarman, at Fenway Park.

During the historic 18-inning Game 3 in Los Angeles, she did her best to throw off Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel. She stood in the crowd to the side of home plate late in the matchup and imitated the closer's unique pitching stance where he leaned over at a 90-degree angle with his arm at his side. While wearing her signature bright blue vintage Dodgers sweater, she bobbed up and down, catching the attention of the internet and of fans watching.

"I noticed how peculiar it was, just mechanically. How does he get his arms around and everything?" Hart told MLB.com ahead of Game 4. "It was just kind of spontaneous – I'm going to get up there and do what he's doing. ...

"There was a little bit of, 'Maybe I can throw him off a little.' He's a hell of a pitcher."

Why did Mary Hart become a Dodgers fan?

Mary Hart moved to Los Angeles in 1979, she told MLB.com. Soon after, she was a bat girl for the Hollywood Stars minor league game at Dodger Stadium and met Tommy Lasorda. She told him of her dream to sing the National Anthem at a Dodgers game and he made it happen. She's had a fierce loyalty to the team ever since.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Mary Hart became Los Angeles Dodgers superfan, went viral in 2018