The Milwaukee Brewers head to UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, October 14 for a League Championship Series showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with first pitch set for 8:00 PM ET on FS1. Robert Gasser gets the ball for Milwaukee against Blake Snell in what is a defining moment for this Brewers franchise. This is the NLCS — the final bridge between Milwaukee and a World Series appearance — and the Brewers are on the road in one of the toughest environments in baseball.

Brewers vs. Dodgers NLCS Pitching Matchup

Robert Gasser draws the start for Milwaukee. The left-hander has worked his way into a significant postseason role, and now he faces the stiffest test of his career. Gasser will need to be economical with his pitch count and keep the ball out of the seats in a hitter-friendly ballpark loaded with dangerous bats top to bottom.

Blake Snell takes the mound for Los Angeles. Snell is one of the more electric arms in the game when he is locked in, and pitching at home in October is a situation built for his style.

Dodgers Lineup Is a Legitimate Threat One Through Nine

Look at what Gasser is walking into. The Dodgers are running out Mookie Betts at shortstop leading off, followed by Freddie Freeman at first base. Teoscar Hernández hits third, Kyle Tucker slots into the cleanup spot, and Andy Pages bats fifth in center field. Then Shohei Ohtani — hitting sixth as the designated hitter — gives Los Angeles a middle-of-the-order weapon even in that spot. Will Smith, Miguel Rojas, and Tommy Edman round out the order. There is no soft spot in this lineup.

Keys to Watch for the Brewers

• Gasser's command early: If Gasser falls behind in counts against Betts and Freeman at the top of the order, this game can get away from Milwaukee in a hurry. First-pitch strikes are going to be critical.
• Keeping the ball in the ballpark: Tucker and Ohtani have the kind of raw power that can change a game with one swing. Gasser cannot afford to leave pitches elevated in this lineup.
• Brewers offense against Snell: Snell can be dominant, but he can also lose the zone. Milwaukee needs to work counts, stay patient, and capitalize when he does not have his best stuff.
• Bullpen management: Gasser does not need to carry this game into the seventh inning alone. Getting five or six quality innings and handing it to Milwaukee's relievers in a close game is a winning plan.

NLCS Game Prediction

This is a brutal draw for the Brewers. Snell at home in October against a Milwaukee lineup that will need to grind through an elite Dodgers pitching staff is a tall order. Gasser is capable of keeping it close if his command is sharp, and this Brewers club has shown throughout the postseason that it does not back down. But the combination of the Dodgers' lineup depth — particularly the threat Ohtani and Tucker pose even hitting sixth and fourth — and Snell's ceiling makes Los Angeles the favorite in this one. Brewers fans, tune in on WTMJ 620 or FS1 and hope Gasser brings his best. Milwaukee is capable of stealing this game. It just needs everything to go right.