Dodgers Face Small Market Rivals as League Championship Series Begins

The 2026 Major League Baseball League Championship Series is underway as the final four teams pursue spots in the World Series, CBS Sports reported. The Milwaukee Brewers took a 1-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series with a 2-1 victory in Game 1 on Sunday night. The teams met again in Milwaukee for Game 2 on Monday afternoon, according to CBS Sports. [1]

The American League Championship Series began on Monday night, pairing the Tampa Bay Rays against the Cleveland Guardians, according to CBS Sports. Drew Rasmussen started on the mound for Tampa Bay in Game 1. CBS Sports reported that Cleveland started Foster Griffin after an extended Division Series exhausted the team's pitching staff. [1]

The Dodgers entered the postseason round as reigning World Series champions seeking a third consecutive title, Yahoo Sports reported. Yahoo Sports, Yahoo MLB, and Sports Illustrated all reported that the Dodgers maintain a payroll that is higher than the total player expenses of the Brewers, Rays, and Guardians combined. [2][3][12]

During Game 2 of the NLCS, Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto lasted 2 2/3 innings and threw 75 pitches, which Yahoo Sports noted was the shortest postseason appearance of his career. Yahoo MLB reported that Los Angeles briefly took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning following two defensive errors by Milwaukee. [6][7]

To reach the League Championship Series, the Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves, the Brewers eliminated the San Diego Padres, the Rays defeated the New York Yankees, and the Guardians also advanced, CBS Sports reported. The postseason originally began on September 29, 2026, and will conclude with the winners of both series advancing to the World Series. [1][14]