The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers lost the first two games of a best-of-seven playoff series, they were unable to recover as they were defeated in six by the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 National League Championship Series. Just like in that matchup, the Dodgers dropped the first two contests of this year's NLCS on the road. Los Angeles avoided going down 0-3 five years ago with a home victory, and if it hopes to keep alive its chances of becoming the first NL team in Major League Baseball history to win three consecutive World Series titles, it likely will need a triumph at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday as it hosts the Milwaukee Brewers at 8 p.m.
ET for Game 3 of the 2026 NLCS. Make your MLB, NHL and college football picks using the BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS and get up to $1,500 in bonus bets: The Dodgers were the first team to repeat as world champions since the New York Yankees won three straight championships from 1998-2000 when they beat the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games in the 2025 World Series. They knocked off Atlanta in four games in this year's NL Division Series but were edged by Milwaukee 2-1 in the opener of the NLCS and fell 7-4 in Game 2 as Tarik Skubal and 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto had their issues on the mound.
Los Angeles now turns to Blake Snell, who lasted only 3 2/3 innings in his start against the Braves in Game 2 of the NLDS. The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed just one run and three hits but issued five walks in that outing. However, Snell was masterful when he faced the Brewers in Game 1 of the 2025 NLCS.
The 33-year-old lefthander limited Milwaukee to one single and registered 10 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings as the Dodgers recorded a 2-1 victory. The Brewers attempt to move within one win of the second World Series appearance in franchise history and first as members of the NL behind southpaw Robert Gasser. The 27-year-old rookie made his first career postseason start in Game 4 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres and pitched relatively well, giving up one run and three hits over four innings.
But Gasser had no success in two meetings with the Dodgers during the regular season as he went 0-2 while surrendering seven runs and 12 hits across 10 2/3 innings. Andy Pages went 4-for-5 against Gasser with a double, a homer and two RBI while Kyle Tucker was 3-for-6 with a triple and a solo blast. Bet on Wednesday's MLB, NHL and college football games with the FanDuel promo code and get up to $350 in bonus bets: One day removed from the Frozen Frenzy, the NHL has only two games on its Wednesday schedule.
One of those contests has the Colorado Avalanche (4-2-0) hosting the Dallas Stars (2-3-1) at 8:30 p.m. It is the second meeting in two nights between the Central Division rivals as Martin Necas scored twice to lead Colorado to a 3-2 victory at Dallas on Tuesday. The other game pits the Montreal Canadiens (3-2-1) against the Washington Capitals (3-3-0) at Capital One Arena at 7:30 p.m.
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