Glasnow faces elimination as Brewers plan bullpen game in NLCS Game 4

Tyler Glasnow gets the ball with the Dodgers’ season on the line Thursday night. The Brewers lead the National League Championship Series 3-0 and can clinch a World Series berth in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern on FS1.

Shohei Ohtani returns to leadoff after batting sixth in Game 3. Will Smith moves to cleanup, with Miguel Rojas starting at second base and Kiké Hernández at third. Ohtani reached base three times Wednesday, including a 113.5-mph single. Dave Roberts told reporters that the quality of those at-bats and Ohtani’s recent work persuaded him to move him back to the top.

Milwaukee will start left-hander Shane Drohan in a bullpen game. It will be his postseason debut. Drohan had a 4.19 ERA in 33 regular-season appearances, including 19 starts, and a 1.47 ERA after moving into relief late in the season.

Glasnow limited Atlanta to one run over 4⅔ innings in his previous start, the Dodgers’ Division Series clincher. He also walked five. The Los Angeles offense collected five hits in Wednesday’s 6-2 loss.

In this October 14 interview, Glasnow discusses being named the Game 4 starter before the Dodgers reached the elimination situation.

Kyle Harrison and Chad Patrick are among Milwaukee’s options behind Drohan. Like Drohan, neither had appeared in the club’s first seven postseason games. Dustin May, another possible option, worked an inning in Game 2.

The back end requires attention, too. DL Hall recorded seven outs Wednesday and Trevor Megill finished a four-out save. The Dodgers’ bullpen has its own decision ahead: Roberts said closer Edwin Díaz would pitch in Game 4 after sitting out the first three games of the series.

Will Smith’s two-run double briefly put the Dodgers ahead Wednesday, and Ohtani reached base on a walk, a hit by pitch and a single. Los Angeles enters Game 4 with two extra-base hits in the series; Ohtani is 4-for-22 this postseason, with all four hits singles.

Milwaukee is one victory from its first World Series appearance since 1982.

Sources

• MLB: Confirmed Game 4 starters and lineups
• ESPN: Ohtani returns to leadoff
• Dodger Blue: Roberts explains the Game 4 lineup

Additional sources

MLB: NLCS Game 4 pitching and bullpen plans

Field Level Media: Game 4 preview

ESPN: Brewers–Dodgers Game 4