3 positive takeaways from the Brewers’ Game 1 loss to the Dodgers

The Milwaukee Brewers didn't get the outcome they were hoping for in Game 1 of the NLCS on Monday night, losing to the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers by a score of 2-1 with the tying run just 90 feet away. However, to say that Game 1 was all bad, despite Dodgers' ace Blake Snell quieting the Brewers' offense for eight innings, is far from true.

Yes, there was a frustrating performance from usually shut-down reliever Abner Uribe in the top of the ninth inning, and some missed opportunities in the bottom of the frame, but there are also several reasons to be optimistic about the Brewers' chances in the NLCS after their performance in the series opener on Monday night. As such, here are three positive takeaways from Milwaukee's Game 1 loss to the Dodgers.

1. The Brewers' pitching staff was (for the most part) excellent

Pat Murphy once again got creative with his pitching staff in Game 1 of the NLCS, turning to an opener in Aaron Ashby to start things off. Ashby, aside from a leadoff walk to Shohei Ohtani, an outcome that most will gladly accept when facing the soon-to-be 4x MVP, was back to his usual dominant self after a shaky performance in Game 5 of the NLDS. He set the next three batters, two MVPs and a 3x Silver Slugger Award winner, down in order and turned things over to Quinn Priester for the second frame.

Priester delivered a completely different performance from the one he turned in at Wrigley Field last week. The 25-year-old right-hander covered four scoreless innings for the Brewers last night, thanks to some help from Sal Frelick in center field. However, despite the improvement in outcome, Priester still didn't look like the dominant pitcher that he was throughout the regular season. He issued three walks, while striking out just one batter, and without Frelick's incredible play in center, he would have allowed four runs on a grand slam to Max Muncy. Even still, the Brewers' defense (usually the infield defense) has been a key to Priester's success all season, and you can't argue with four scoreless innings.

The bullpen also performed admirably, outside of Uribe's frustrating inning of work. Chad Patrick allowed a solo shot to Freddie Freeman in the sixth, but that's going to happen when facing a lineup chock-full of All-Stars; the key was that Freeman's homer came with no one on base. Both Jared Koenig and Trevor Megill turned in solid performances, keeping the Dodgers at just one run, before Uribe walked-in what became the difference-making run in the top of the ninth.

All in all, allowing just two runs, one of which was handed to them, when facing the dangerous Dodgers' lineup is a win, and a recipe for success going forward in the NLCS. If the Brewers could replicate that performance, and put the pressure on their offense to score just three runs in each game, I'm sure they would take that every time.

2. The Dodgers' bullpen was shaky

As previously mentioned, the Dodgers' ace, Blake Snell, turned in a gem on Monday night, covering all but one inning while facing the minimum number of hitters. He surrendered just one hit and subsequently picked off that baserunner at first base. However, he surpassed the 100-pitch mark in the eighth inning and forced his manager, Dave Roberts, to turn to his bullpen for the final frame.

Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles' talented rookie pitcher from Japan, whom they signed last offseason, has been Roberts' go-to guy in the ninth inning despite having a tough regular season as a starting pitcher. Sasaki had been excellent in the closers' role during the playoffs, but on Monday night, he finally turned in a poor outing. He faced just five batters and allowed two walks, a ground-rule double, and a sacrifice fly in that span. With the tying run on third base and the winning run on first, Roberts was forced to turn to another reliever, veteran Blake Treinen.

Treinen too looked uncomfortable on the mound, walking the first batter he faced, William Contreras, before getting the final out on a strikeout to Brice Turang. However, Turang helped Treinen out considerably during the final at-bat of the game, avoiding a pitch that would have hit him and tied the game before swinging at a pitch at his eyes to end it.

The Dodgers' bullpen is clearly their weakness, but some of those issues appeared to be solved with the emergence of Sasaki as a late-inning option. With the young flamethrower struggling against the Brewers in Game 1, Roberts' bullpen decisions going forward will certainly be something to keep a close eye on.

3. Despite a quiet start to the game, the Brewers never quit

It would have been easy for the Brewers to simply chalk this one up to an incredible pitching performance and an adrenaline hangover following their thrilling series with the Chicago Cubs last week. After seeing Blake Snell's best stuff for eight innings, the team easily could have just rolled over in the final frame and accepted defeat.

However, that's not the mentality that Pat Murphy has instilled in his players this season; that's not being undaunted. Rather, the Brewers delivered some gutsy at-bats in the ninth inning, with Isaac Collins drawing a walk to start the rally, and Jake Bauers once again delivering during a postseason pinch-hit appearance. Jackson Chourio followed by doing a job with a sacrifice fly that put the winning run on third base, before Christian Yelich and William Contreras each drew full-count walks.

Ultimately, their effort came up just short, but the ninth inning proved that the Brewers are not wavering from their approach even in the face of the defending champion Dodgers. Their relentless mentality that has brought them to this point carries on with the lights shining brighter in October. Yes, the Dodgers may have taken Game 1, but this series is far from over.