MILWAUKEE — The congratulatory text arrived late Saturday night on Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy’s phone. One of roughly 600 messages he received after defeating the Chicago Cubs to reach the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2018, it stood out. The sender: Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers—a franchise synonymous with postseason dominance.
“Congrats, look forward to seeing you,” Friedman wrote. Murphy read the text aloud to USA TODAY Sports with a chuckle: “Please see if you can be a little more hospitable than you were with us this season. Thanks for your consideration.”
While the Brewers did sweep the Dodgers in all six of their regular-season matchups, Milwaukee is still leaning into the underdog narrative as the NLCS begins Oct. 13 at American Family Field. And why not? They’re a small-market team with a payroll around $130 million—just a fraction of the Dodgers’ $400 million payroll—filled with players largely unfamiliar to the wider baseball audience. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ roster features household names from coast to coast, a team whose players appear on billboards from New York to Tokyo.
David vs. Goliath
“We're not overconfident, that’s for sure,” Murphy said. “The Dodgers are a powerhouse. You don’t see many commercials in the United States, Canada, Japan—anywhere across the world—that don’t feature Dodgers players.”
Murphy went on to name-drop some of the stars he admires. Freddie Freeman, he said, is “my favorite person, player in the game. He’s ruined Brewers history many times, but I still love him.” Shohei Ohtani, of course, is a once-in-a-generation talent, while Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are among the elite pitchers Murphy has faced. Then there’s Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old rookie whose fastball and split-finger combination seems almost unfair.
“And Mookie Betts—transitioning to shortstop for America’s team, playing at a Gold Glove level—is unprecedented,” Murphy added. “He’s like Steph Curry playing forward in basketball. That’s how good he is.”
Even beyond the stars, Murphy praised the depth of the Dodgers, from Teoscar Hernandez to Miguel Rojas. His admiration for the Dodgers is unreserved, but that doesn’t stop him from rallying his team.
“We’re just a bunch of average Joes,” Murphy admitted, referencing his clubhouse full of grinders and players who’ve overcome adversity. Christian Yelich calls them the “collection of misfit toys,” a fitting moniker for a team that’s taken unlikely paths to success.
Dodgers Aren’t Buying It
The Dodgers, however, are not buying the underdog storyline. Blake Snell, starting Game 1 for Los Angeles, dismissed the notion that the Brewers are just a collection of overachievers. “They’re not. They have the best record in the NL. They’re a really good team,” Snell said.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, once Murphy’s coaching colleague in San Diego, echoed the sentiment. “They’re just gritty, they’re tough, and they take on Murph's personality,” Roberts said. “They can slug. They’ve got athleticism. They defend well, they pitch well, and they’re hungry. That’s what’s scary. Anything Murph speaks to, in the Lou Holtz vein, we’re not buying. This is a very good ballclub.”
Roberts’ point is clear: while the Brewers have embraced the underdog label, the Dodgers see them as a legitimate threat. And for a team with championship pedigree and perennial playoff experience, that’s enough to command respect without a hint of condescension.
Brewers Believe in Themselves
Still, the Brewers are confident. After defeating the Cubs in a dramatic five-game series, Milwaukee has nothing to lose and everything to gain. “It doesn’t get any bigger than big market vs. small market,” Yelich said. “We’re up against it. We love being in that situation. It’s fitting for us that it’s going to come down to that series with the star power of the Dodgers and the so-called average Joes coming in. We’re going to compete our butts off and see what happens.”
Veteran starter Brandon Woodruff echoed the sentiment: “When you go against the Dodgers and that payroll, we’re the underdogs, man. We’ve been like that all season. There’s no getting around it. Anytime you go up against the Dodgers, you’re the underdog. But we proved this year we can play with them.”
Indeed, the Brewers’ regular-season dominance over the Dodgers—winning all six matchups and owning home-field advantage—gives them hope. Yet, both teams understand that postseason baseball is a different animal, and past victories don’t guarantee future success.
A Historical Perspective
Upsets happen in sports. Buster Douglas once knocked out Mike Tyson. The U.S. hockey team defeated the Soviets in the “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Olympics. Joe Namath and the New York Jets shocked the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. The Brewers are banking on a similar mix of preparation, grit, and belief to defy expectations.
“The Dodgers are fantastic,” Murphy admitted. “They’re probably better at almost every position than us. But it doesn’t come down to that. It’s about who plays the hardest. They’re hungry. I don’t underestimate them.”
In return, the Dodgers aren’t underestimating the Brewers either. Both teams are preparing for a clash that will test talent, strategy, and heart—a true David vs. Goliath matchup in modern baseball.
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