Pat Murphy seems chastened ahead of Dodgers-Brewers rematch after mortifying sweep in 2025

Pat Murphy is not one to shy away from speaking his mind. But after being utterly embarrassed during the 2025 National League Championship Series, the Milwaukee Brewers manager is approaching this year's matchup with a little more humility.

“We’re gonna be more ready than we were last time, I believe," Murphy said earlier this week. "That doesn’t guarantee anything but we got to be ready for what they say is the best team in baseball, but we think we are. We’re going to do our best to stay with them and beat them in seven games.”

Brewers' manager Pat Murphy takes softer approach in NLCS rematch with Dodgers

This is certainly a different tone than the us-against-the-world mentality that Murphy brought to the NLCS last year. His "Average Joes" comments lost their luster when the Dodgers mopped the floor with the Brewers in just four games.

During the series sweep, Milwaukee scored just one run in each game despite having home field advantage — something they'll enjoy this year as well. Los Angeles' bats, much like they have so far during this year's postseason, weren't the difference during the series. LA scored just 15 total runs.

But the Dodgers pitching staff throughly dismantled the Brewers' small-ball approach. Milwaukee's offense was built around the philosophy of get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in. Los Angeles allowed them to get on, and on occasion get over, but the getting in was the hard part. The Brewers have a similar approach to the game this season, but still rank outside the top-10 in terms of power (.403).

Much like it did last year, this series will come down to pitching. So far, the Brewers' pitching staff has been lights out. During their NLDS win over the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee pitching allowed just seven earned runs over 35 innings. But LA is right there, with eight earned runs allowed over 36 innings during the playoffs thus far.

Both teams will have adequate rest and the ability to reset their respective rotations heading into play for Game 1 on Sunday. It might be presumptuous for Dodgers fans to think about a four-game sweep this year — the Brewers are very good.

But we wouldn't count on hearing too many payroll comparisons and small-market excuses from Murphy this year. Those didn't work last year, and frankly, everyone knows the Brewers' 103-win record is legitimate. This may be a David against Goliath matchup in terms of payroll, but once the first pitch is thrown, all that talk goes out the window.

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