The Milwaukee Brewers find themselves in a precarious position as they head to Los Angeles for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) on October 14, 2025. After falling behind 0-2 in the best-of-seven series, the Brewers face a historical challenge; teams that have lost the first two games at home have only triumphed in 3 out of 24 instances.
The Brewers’ offense has been largely ineffective, managing just one run on four hits across 17 innings against the dominant pitching performances of Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. These two pitchers struck out 17 batters while allowing just one walk, leaving the Brewers struggling to find answers at the plate. As they prepare to face yet another ace in Tyler Glasnow, the Brewers are searching for any signs of life among their key hitters.
Searching for Offensive Spark
In particular, left-handed hitters such as Christian Yelich, Brice Turang, and Sal Frelick have underperformed this postseason. Yelich leads this trio with a modest .531 OPS, followed closely by Frelick at .530 and Turang at .458. This performance is starkly contrasted with their regular season contributions, where each played a vital role in the team’s success.
Yelich was a consistent run producer and home run hitter, while Turang emerged as a significant mid-order bat. Frelick, who served as a regular leadoff hitter, concluded the regular season as one of the team leaders in batting average. Collectively, they cannot afford to continue their slump, having combined for just two hits in 21 at-bats over the last two games.
The upcoming match against Glasnow presents a unique opportunity for these left-handed hitters. While Glasnow is formidable, his past performance indicates he may be more vulnerable to lefties. In the previous two seasons, left-handed hitters registered a significantly higher OPS against him than right-handed hitters. In 2024, lefties had a .621 OPS, with a decent power output, while in 2023, Glasnow’s OPS splits favored lefties at .720 compared to right-handers at .492.
Potential Advantages and Challenges
For the Brewers’ right-handed hitters, players like Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn have shown promise this postseason. Their performance will be crucial as the team seeks to capitalize on Glasnow’s weaknesses. Meanwhile, Jake Bauers has also been productive, posting a 1.018 OPS in September and contributing positively in the playoffs.
Despite Glasnow’s struggles with command—having issued 43 walks during the regular season and five in the postseason—he remains a daunting opponent. In a recent outing against the Philadelphia Phillies, Glasnow allowed only two hits over six scoreless innings, showcasing his potential to dominate.
As the Brewers prepare for Game 3, their strategy hinges on being disciplined at the plate, drawing walks, and revitalizing their left-handed hitters. The stakes could not be higher as they aim to claw their way back into the series. The Brewers’ path to success rests on their ability to adapt and perform under pressure against Glasnow, a challenge they must embrace to revive their postseason hopes.