The fight for the NLCS and a spot in The World Series between the Dodgers and Brewers began in Milwaukee for Game 1. Pitching for the Dodgers was their designated ace, Clayton Kershaw, who went up against Brewers pitcher, Gio Gonzalez. Manny Machado gave the Dodgers some confidence after hitting a homerun in the top of the second inning. However, the Dodgers soon lost their grip on the win after a homer from Brandon Woodruff, a run from Lorenzo Cain in the bottom of the third inning, along with three runs in the fourth inning by Orlando Arcia, Manny Pina, and Domingo Santana. The Brewers also extended their lead with Jesus Aguilar’s homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning, who then led the Dodgers 6-1. With two innings left, the boys in blue began a comeback with three runs in the eighth inning by Max Muncy, Chris Taylor, and Joc Pederson. Along with this Taylor tripled in the top of the ninth allowing Pederson to score. Despite these runs the Dodgers still fell short to the Brewers, losing the game 5-6.

In Game 2 of the series, Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched for the Dodgers, and pitching for the Brewers was Wade Miley. The Brewers initially had control of the game, leading the Dodgers 3-0 by the sixth inning. However, with an RBI single from Cody Bellinger, a run from Manny Machado, and a two-run homer from Justin Turner the Dodgers not only tied the score, but took the lead and won the game.

The Dodgers hosted the 3rd game of the NLCS. Brewers pitcher, Jhoulys Chacin dominated the opposing batters keeping it a scoreless game for the Dodgers. However Dodgers rookie pitcher, Walker Buehler, didn’t have quite the same performance, as he gave up four runs to the Brewers throughout the game, ultimately leading the Dodgers to their second loss of the series.

Game 4 of the NLCS was also at Dodger stadium. Rich Hill took the mound for the Dodgers, and pitching for the Brewers was Gio Gonzalez. The Dodgers started off strong after Brian Dozier singled and Chris Taylor came home from second base. This lead lasted until the fifth inning when Domingo Santana doubled allowing Orlando Arcia to score, tying the game at 1-1. After this inning it was apparent that this game would turn out to be a battle of the pitchers. In the thirteenth inning Manny Machado singled and stole second base on a wild pitch. Caught in this deadlock, Cody Bellinger revived Chavez Ravine with a walk-off hit bringing Machado home. Not only did this hit win the game but it tied the series at 2-2.

In Game 5 of the NLCS Kershaw and Woodruff both returned to the mound. The Brewers had the first run of the game in the top of the third inning from Arcia off of Cain’s double. Chris Taylor responded to this run with a single, two stolen bases and ultimately a tieing run for the Dodgers. With runs from Turner, Machado, Kershaw, and Bellinger, the Dodgers reasserted their dominance by scoring four more runs in the sixth, and seventh innings. In the top of the ninth Aguilar doubled and went home after a double from former Dodger, Curtis Granderson. However, this attempt at a comeback was ultimately finished after Jansen strukout Mike Moustakas to end the game.

Going into Game 6 was the first time the dodgers had a lead in the series at 3-2, and also had the potential of being the last game needed for the Dodgers to clinch their spot in The World Series. Pitching this game was Wade Miley and Hyun-Jin Ryu. David Freese began the scoring with a homerun in the top of the first inning on only the fifth pitch of the game. The Brewers quickly followed up with runs from Braun, Cain, Aguilar, and Moustakas in the bottom of the first. Christian Yelich is also able to score a run in the bottom of the second bringing the game to 5-1. One run from Dozier in the fifth inning was responded to by two runs from Aguilar and Cain in the seventh and eighth innings. The Brewers won the game 7-2 and the NLCS was once again tied.

For the 7th and final game of the series Buehler, and Chacin took the mound once more. Yelich came ready to hit, and delivered for the Brewers a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning. The Dodgers, scoreless in the first, made up for that when Bellinger hit a two run homer in the top of the second, giving the Dodgers a lead in the game. In the bottom of the fifth, Taylor robbed the Brewers of a possible game tying run by catching Yelich’s fly ball to left field. In the top of the sixth, with Bellinger at second base and Muncy at third, Yasiel Puig hit a homerun giving the Dodgers a 5-1 lead over the Brewers. After striking out Moustakas in the bottom of the ninth, Kershaw not only closed the game but also clinched the NLCS and a spot in The World Series. This spot proves that the Dodgers are just as good of a team as they were last year, but have they improved?  Whether or not they walk away with the Commissioner’s Trophy will prove if they are a better team this season, and are capable of finishing what they started . We will soon find out as the Dodgers take on the Boston Red Sox in The World Series.