Can Brewers' 'pen hold up? Can Glasnow get L.A. on track? Key takeaways after Game 3

The Brewers are just one win away from flipping the script on the Dodgers from last year’s sweep in the National League Championship Series -- but both clubs know this year’s NLCS is far from over.

After primarily leaning on their own brand of baseball through the first two games, the Brewers found a new way to knock off the two-time defending champs in Wednesday night’s 6-2 victory in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium.

So, as they look to finish the job -- and the Dodgers hope to simply stay alive -- here are four key takeaways in the aftermath of Game 3:

1. Brewers out-Dodger the Dodgers

Every team in the National League hit at least a dozen more home runs during the regular season than the Brewers. In fact, only one team across the entire Majors hit fewer home runs than Milwaukee’s 154 (Blue Jays, 152).

Needless to say, the Brewers rarely hit homers in bunches this season. They had just 10 games this season in which they hit three home runs, the fewest three-homer games by any team.

But they picked a good spot for a power surge in Game 3.

Jackson Chourio got things started with a leadoff shot on the first pitch of the game as he continues to add to his already remarkable resume. Dodgers starter Blake Snell rebounded to hold the Brewers in check … until the seventh inning.

That’s when Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell went back-to-back to give the Brewers the lead for good. Not only was it a rare three-homer night for the Crew, but they all came against a pitcher in Snell who had not allowed a home run in 46 1/3 innings this season (including the postseason).

Milwaukee is proving it can win games in a number of ways, and while that’s no surprise for a team that won an MLB-best 103 games this season, it is a complete reversal from how this matchup played out in last year’s NLCS.

2. How do the Dodgers dig out of this?

It all starts with Game 4 starter Tyler Glasnow, who wasn't exactly sharp in his lone start this postseason (five walks over 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Braves).

He'll now be tasked with helping save the season, something he had some experience with during his time with the Rays. Glasnow has started three other potential elimination games -- and he has some mixed results.

He took the loss while lasting just 2 2/3 innings in Game 5 of the 2019 ALDS against the Astros, but pitched well -- albeit with a quick hook (2 1/3 scoreless innings) -- in Game 5 of the '20 ALDS against the Yankees. His best outing, though, came against Cleveland in Game 2 of the 2022 Wild Card Series, when he tossed five scoreless innings in an eventual 1-0 loss in 15 innings.

"I think he's going to pitch well," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "He's fresh. He's got a lot of arm talent. He's got experience, certainly, in the postseason."

Of course, the reality is the Dodgers are going to need more offense.

This is a team that averaged 5.1 runs per game over the previous two postseasons, but they’re scoring just 3.0 runs per game this time around. Shohei Ohtani (.515 OPS this postseason), Freddie Freeman (.664 OPS) and Mookie Betts (.586 OPS) have not made their usual impact. Teoscar Hernández (.522 OPS) hasn’t done much after homering in L.A.’s postseason opener against the Braves. Will Smith came through with a clutch two-out double on Wednesday night, but he’s still just 2-for-27 (.074) in October.

Strangely enough, the only regular starter putting up good numbers in October is Kyle Tucker, who struggled all season. He's hitting .304 with an .885 OPS in the playoffs.

It’s now or never for the Dodgers stars to show up.

3. Can the Brewers sustain this bullpen usage?

Pitching for the seventh time in seven games this postseason, Brewers reliever Abner Uribe finally had a letdown in Game 3. He recorded only one out while walking the bases loaded before giving up Smith's go-ahead two-run double in the sixth.

“Abner not throwing strikes is unusual, but he's been good seven straight playoff games,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “ ... We believe in him. He didn't have his control tonight.”

Meanwhile, closer Trevor Megill pitched for the fifth time this postseason -- and went more than one inning for the second time. He was his usual shutdown self in Game 3, retiring all four batters he faced, including a pair of strikeouts.

Milwaukee’s bullpen will almost certainly be asked to play a big role again in Game 4 (starter TBD). If the series extends beyond that, the Brewers’ relief corps would still play a key role behind expected Game 5 starter Jacob Misiorowski.

So the question is not just whether Uribe, Megill and Co. can finish the job, but whether they can do it soon enough to get everyone some extra rest before a potential World Series.

4. Dodgers don’t need to look far for motivation

Nobody knows better than Roberts that this series isn’t over just yet.

The manager hoping to lead L.A. to just the second 3-0 comeback in postseason history played a pivotal role in the first 3-0 comeback to this point, when he helped the Red Sox rally past the rival Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. With Boston on the verge of being swept in Game 4, Roberts executed one of the most significant stolen bases in Major League history as a pinch-runner against legendary closer Mariano Rivera. Roberts scored the tying run moments later on Bill Mueller’s single up the middle, and the Red Sox went on to win the game in 12 innings -- and the series in seven games.

"It's certainly possible," Roberts said. "I've lived it."

For a Dodgers team that desperately needs a spark, Roberts -- who didn't have a single plate appearance during that 2004 postseason -- is the perfect reminder that it can come from just about anywhere.