Brewers and Dodgers’ 2026 trade deadline outcome to play key role in NLCS rematch

Neither the Los Angeles Dodgers nor the Milwaukee Brewers were the most active team at the trade deadline -- that is title that the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, or Tampa Bay Rays could claim -- but the moves that were made by the two NL powerhouses figure to play a huge role in their NLCS rematch this year.

The big fish is, obviously, Tarik Skubal. Once a genuine trade target for Matt Arnold and company, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner wound up in Los Angeles in the blockbuster deal of the summer. All he's done since is pitch to a 2.61 ERA and 2.36 FIP over 62 regular-season innings with the Dodgers, which he followed up with a one-run quality start in the team's postseason opener against the Braves. He'll now toe the rubber against NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1 of the NLCS.

There's also 2025 All-Star Kris Bubic, whom Los Angeles acquired from the Kansas City Royals at the deadline, to worry about in the bullpen, and veteran backstop Hunter Feduccia from the Rays, who settled the Dodgers' backup catcher situation down the stretch. Each should play a role in this series, though the Brewers will counter with a few midseason acquisitions of their own.

Brewers' trade deadline pitching additions will have major sway over NLCS outcome

Though the Crew were unable to land Skubal (and any frontline starter, for that matter), they did pick up Dustin May in an effort to augment their rotation. He was far from flawless down the stretch in Milwaukee (5.65 ERA, 5.06 FIP), but he earned the Game 3 start in the NLDS against the Padres. Though that outing wasn't perfect (two runs on two walks and three hits over three innings), he's still one of the team's best starting options, but it sounds like he will take the ball in Game 4 instead of Game 3 this time around. Against his former team with whom he won the 2020 World Series, there's a good chance for revenge brewing.

Alongside May in that trade with the Cardinals came JoJo Romero, a former closer who was a low-slot, left-handed weapon in Milwaukee's 'pen down the stretch. He pitched twice in the NLDS and, outside of a solo home run allowed to Jake Cronenworth, looked dominant. Seeing as many of the Dodgers' best hitters bat from the left side of the plate -- Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Kyle Tucker chief among them -- expect to see Romero get plenty of run in the NLCS.

There's also Antonio Senzatela, who likewise pitched twice in the NLDS and performed well. When Senzatela has his heavy sinker working, even a good fastball-hitting lineup like the Padres and Dodgers' will struggle with the pitch. He and Romero will likely be the first men out of the bullpen more often than not in the middle innings, tasked with bridging the gap between the rotation and high-leverage trio of Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill.

Though none of that trio will play as important of a role as Skubal, their collective performance will be key to toppling the Dodgers. If they falter, the Brewers' pitching depth may not be strong enough to withstand an assault from L.A.'s vaunted lineup.

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