The Dodgers may have represented the National League in the World Series for the second straight season, but the remainder of the NL Division Series field was comprised of a trio of more unexpected teams led by this year's finalists for NL Manager of the Year. Brian Snitker's Braves overcame the Nationals and Phillies to reach the postseason ahead of schedule, while Bud Black's Rockies took the next step with a win over the Cubs in the NL Wild Card Game. But most significantly, Craig Counsell and the Brewers embraced the unorthodox, opening and bullpenning their way to within one game of the NL pennant.
With the 2018 NL Manager of the Year set to be revealed in Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET announcement on MLB Network, here's a look at the case for each of the finalists.
• AL Manger of the Year Award: A case for each finalist
Bud Black, Rockies
To begin, there's history: The Rockies had never qualified for the postseason in consecutive years until Black, who was a finalist last year when the Rockies appeared in the Wild Card Game, took them a step further -- to the NL Division Series -- in 2018. And after being eight games out of first place in the NL West on June 28 and losing five of six from Sept. 14-19, the Rockies finished 162 games in a dead heat with the Dodgers at 91 wins (the second-highest win total in club history). Only a loss in a tiebreaker game separated the Rockies from their first division title in their 26-season history.
Black navigated through some difficult times. The offense's .256 batting average and .225 road average were club record-lows. Yet, the Rockies won a club-record 44 road games.
Last offseason, the Rockies signed closer Wade Davis, righty setup man Bryan Shaw and lefty setup man Jake McGee to three-year deals totaling $106 million. While Davis finished with 43 saves, he had a couple of difficult periods, and Shaw and McGee struggled to the point they weren't included on the postseason roster. But by season's end, Black navigated through the slumps and the relievers were a driving force down the stretch.
Ultimately, the success reflected the values of Black, the only former pitcher to manage the Rockies. His leadership helped the Rockies become the first team since the 2011 Rays to have every game started by someone who had never pitched for another Major League team.
--Thomas Harding
Craig Counsell, Brewers
Counsell, who grew up in Milwaukee and played for the Brewers before moving to the dugout in 2015, finished fourth in NL Manager of the Year balloting a year ago but is a finalist this time after Milwaukee surged to a 96-67 finish in the regular season, matching the franchise record for victories in a season with a win over the Cubs in a NL Central tiebreaker that secured the third division crown in franchise history. That came as part of a late-season winning streak that stretched to 12 games, including the final eight games of the regular season.
Counsell's imprint was evident, especially down the stretch as he juggled a position player group with many movable pieces and squeezed the most out of a pitching staff that lacked an ace.
In both areas, it worked. The Brewers went from "too many outfielders" in Spring Training to "too many infielders" in July, but Travis Shaw successfully shifted to second base and the Brewers, led by NL Most Valuable Player Award finalist Christian Yelich, ranked fourth in MLB with a .781 OPS after the All-Star break. On the pitching front, the Brewers ranked fifth in MLB with a 3.73 ERA despite missing 2017 ace Jimmy Nelson for the entire season while he recovered from shoulder surgery, and steps back for Chase Anderson and Zach Davies. The difference was a strong bullpen led by multi-inning lefty Josh Hader and co-closers Jeremy Jeffress and Corey Knebel, whom Counsell used aggressively in September as the Brewers chased down the Cubs.
--Adam McCalvy

Brian Snitker, Braves
After Snitker spoke to his players upon inheriting a 9-28 Braves team during the 2016 season, Freddie Freeman says he and his teammates walked away feeling like they were 28-9. The beloved manager's upbeat personality and optimism guided Atlanta through the final stages of a rebuild and helped create the culture that allowed an underdog bunch to claim an unexpected division title this year.
Picked by many to finish fourth in the NL East, the Braves spent 115 days in first place and never experienced anything longer than a four-game losing streak. Snitker's calm approach fueled the resiliency of this Atlanta club that blew a six-run, eighth-inning lead to the Red Sox on Sept. 5 and then proceeded to essentially seal the division by winning seven of the next eight.
Snitker benefited from the MVP-caliber production Freeman provided throughout much of the season and the great success NL Rookie of the Year Award winner Ronald Acuna Jr. had after being moved to the leadoff spot after the All-Star break. But he also pushed all of the right buttons with the pitching staff, which was without its only experienced closer for approximately 3 1/2 months. Four of the five relievers who made at least 50 appearances had never previously experienced a full Major League season.
Much of this season's success was also a product of Snitker's willingness to digest and utilize much of the analytical data he was introduced to after general manager Alex Anthopoulos joined the organization last winter. The information simply fortified the leadership strengths he has displayed while spending the past four decades serving the best interests of the Braves organization and his players.
--Mark Bowman