Mapping out the Brewers pitching plans for Games 3 and 4 of the NLCS

The full wrath of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been on display in the first two games of the NLCS, as the starting pitcher tandem of Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto proved to be the best duology to come out of Los Angeles since Kill Bill: Volume 1 and 2.

Now staring down a 2-0 deficit, the Milwaukee Brewers will have to go on the road in an attempt to save their season. To make matters worse, ace Freddy Peralta threw 97 pitches in Game 2, meaning he likely won't be available again unless the Crew can push the series back to Wisconsin.

The odds are firmly against them, and it's unclear at this juncture how Pat Murphy plans to cover the 54 outs necessary to even the series.

They say creativity thrives most when pushed into a corner, so let's try to discern how the Brewers will use their pitching staff over the next two games in Los Angeles.

Aaron Ashby to start Game 3, heaps of uncertainty to follow

Let's start with what we do know. Aaron Ashby -- who has pitched in every Brewers playoff game this October besides Game 3 of the NLDS -- will toe the rubber to start Game 3 of the NLCS.

We also know that Jose Quintana expects to pitch in Game 3, likely in a long-relief role after Ashby is pulled, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg, among others.

Beyond that, everything seems to be up in the air. Quinn Priester handled four scoreless innings in Game 1—perhaps he could handle a similar bulk role in either of the next two games.

Chad Patrick also pitched in the first game of the series, though he struggled in that appearance and hasn't exceeded more than 1 2/3 innings in any outing since the postseason began.

Jacob Misiorowski hasn't thrown since that scintillating Game 5 performance against the Cubs, so he should be well-rested. That should actually be true for most of the bullpen, seeing as the Brewers were given a much-needed reprieve in the form of a day off between Games 2 and 3.

So, if we have to guess, it'd be wise to expect some combination of Ashby, Quintana, Patrick, and the high-leverage crew (Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, Jared Koenig) in Game 3, and then Misiorowski, Priester, a legally required appearance from Ashby, and the same relievers in Game 4. If all goes according to plan, that is.

Regardless of how this all shakes out, it's all hands on deck right now. The No. 1 seed Brewers are watching their lives flash before their eyes, and it's going to take a Herculean effort to dig out of this hole.

To start, perhaps the Brewers can replicate the Blue Jays' latest feat and turn the Dodgers' home-field advantage in their own favor.