Everything is in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ favor in the NLCS

The Los Angeles Dodgers split two games at Miller Park with the Milwaukee Brewers and now have home-field advantage in a best-of-five series.

The Los Angeles Dodgers did exactly what the team needed to do in the first two games of the 2018 NLCS: just beat the Milwaukee Brewers once.

Many Dodger fans walked away from Game 1 of the NLCS disappointed. Clayton Kershaw struggled after a masterful NLDS performance and the Dodgers came as close as possible to tying the game.

With two outs and Chris Taylor on third, Justin Turner stepped up — 0-4 on the day with three strikeouts. Turner was due for a hit. He never goes 0-5 in games and literally had never stuck out four times in an MLB game before.

More from LA Sports Hub

• Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
• LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
• LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
• Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
• LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month

Turner struck out on a high fastball and the Brewers escaped with a Game 1 victory.

After taking the lead and seemingly the momentum in Game 2, the Dodgers again rallied back and Turner did not fail again. JT sent a moonshot into left field to put the Dodgers up 4-3 in the top of the eighth inning. That was the final tally.

Now, as the two teams head to Los Angeles for a guaranteed three games, I have never felt more confident in a 1-1 split in a seven-game playoff series. That is a bit troublesome, especially as a Dodger fan, who risks getting disappointed yet again.

However, this series has been entirely dictated by the Dodgers. When the Dodgers lost, it was because of defensive miscues that gave Kershaw too many stressful at-bats. When the Dodgers won, it was because of a collective late-game movement to score some runs.

Just look at the “unbeatable” Milwaukee bullpen that has been touted as the great equalizer heading into the series.

The Brewers bullpen has thrown a combined 10 and one-third innings in two NLCS games. Not only is that a lot of innings to throw in the postseason, but the bullpen also has not been great.

The Brew Crew pen has allowed eight runs in those 10 and one-third innings (6.97 ERA). The Dodger pen has allowed two runs in nine and two-thirds innings (1.86 ERA).

Josh Hader is the only prominent reliever that was not torched by the Dodgers, as he threw three shutout innings in game one.

However, that rendered him out of Game 2, where the Dodgers were able to strike. Hader either needs to be limited to one-inning outings or every other game. Either way, it is in LA’s favor.

And let’s be honest; the starting pitching has overperformed for the Brewers. Gio Gonzalez only went two innings in Game 1 and Brandon Woodruff came in and threw two more innings. The two combined for just one hit in four innings; a solo home run off the bat of Manny Machado.

In Game 2, Wade Miley absolutely dealt, throwing five and two-thirds shutout innings with just two hits. Both Miley and Gonzalez are southpaws and Woodruff was brought in at the perfect time to succeed.

The Brewers have to turn to a right-handed pitcher in Game 3 in Jhoulys Chacin and will have to go with another right-handed pitcher in Game 4. The Dodgers hit right-handed pitchers to the tune of a .796 OPS, the second-best mark in baseball. The team’s .733 OPS against southpaws was 13th in the league.

Plus, expecting a mediocre pitching staff to continue to go toe-to-toe with one of the best starting rotations in baseball is a bit unrealistic. This is especially true considering the Brewers have three games at Dodger Stadium now.

The starting pitchers no longer have the support of the home crowd. We saw in the NLDS with Walker Buehler how much an opposing crowd can shift the game.

When it comes to offense, the Brewers still do have the potential of posting a big number on the scoreboard and making the Dodgers work. However, in Dodger Stadium this year, the Brewers had a collective .690 OPS.

The Brewers only hit worse in Wrigley Field and Progressive Field. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 3.16 home ERA is the lowest in the MLB.

Anything can happen and it is ridiculous to count your chickens before they hatch. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers have all the advantages pointing in their favor as the NLCS heads to So Cal.