Max Muncy’s no-nonsense response to Dodgers’ performance doesn’t instill confidence for Game 4

The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting severely outplayed by the Milwaukee Brewers through the first three games of the National League Championship Series. LA's been outscored 15-7 so far in the series, and they've hit zero home runs to Milwaukee's five.

In Game 3, the Dodgers managed just five hits, failing to generate enough offense to compete with the Brewers' aggressive style. Jackson Chourio went yard on the first pitch of the game from Blake Snell. When LA seized the lead back in the sixth on a two-run double from Will Smith, Milwaukee bounced right back: In the next half inning, Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell hit back-to-back jacks off of Snell to re-take the lead.

The Brewers added additional runs in the eighth and ninth, whereas the Dodgers' bats didn't capitalize on opportunities to stay in the game (1-for-6 with runners in scoring position). Following the deflating result, Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy didn't exactly wax poetic about LA's struggles.

Max Muncy's blunt analysis of the Dodgers' struggles doesn't inspire faith for Game 4

Muncy's assessment of things is accurate, but it doesn't help Dodgers fans feel any better about Game 4 on Thursday night. It's admirable that Muncy chose to be honest rather than come up with some excuses for the Dodgers, but doing so also reinforced the harsh reality that LA simply might not be good enough right now to overcome what looks like a team of destiny over in the Brewers' dugout.

And there aren't excuses to make -- the Dodgers' stars are present, just not performing. Shohei Ohtani hasn't been himself, and it's not like LA's offense is without proven playoff performers like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman at the moment. Muncy's not helping matters, either, at least not in this series. After an awesome NLDS, Muncy is 1-for-9 with four strikeouts so far in the NLCS.

To keep their three-peat dream alive, the Dodgers must make history

If Muncy sounds pessimistic, it's probably because he understands the history of baseball. Only one team (the 2004 Boston Red Sox) has ever come back and won a best-of-seven series after trailing 3-0. It's never been done in an NLCS. If there's a group with the talent required to pull off the near-impossible, it's these Dodgers, but talent might not be the issue here.

The problem is momentum. The Brewers have scores of it, whereas the Dodgers look stuck in the mud. The other issue is that LA doesn't have any runway to generate the momentum they need. They are in the middle of a series and must act immediately or watch their season and three-peat hopes end just as swiftly.

Tyler Glasnow will surely put in a good performance in Game 4, but it won't mean anything if the Dodgers' offense is weak yet again. Muncy's simple assessment of things leads to a simple directive for the Dodgers: get on base early and often, and drive guys in when you do.

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