MILWAUKEE —  A year ago, when the Dodgers swept the Brewers in the NLCS, Los Angeles was a stronger team than it is now and Milwaukee was a significantly weaker one.

But as these teams clash for the right to advance to the World Series yet again, the playing field has evened.

“Going into last year's post-season, I didn't know if I was going to be on the roster,” recalled Jacob Misiorowski, who will start Game 1 opposite Tarik Skubal Sunday. “I didn't know if I was going to make it and help the team. This year they trust me a little more. So it's a little easier to get behind yourself.”

And by extension, it’ll be a little harder for the Dodgers. Yes, they’ve added Skubal and Kyle Tucker since last year’s NLCS. This team’s still so talented. But their best player isn’t pitching at all — and he’s not himself at the plate, either. Plus, the Dodgers' bats aren’t clicking either, with two and a half weeks elapsed since they last scored more than five runs in a game.

Ultimately, anything can happen in a seven-game series. But in an NLCS charged with narratives, the talent on the field is far more equal than the teams’ respective payrolls or market sizes might suggest. And while a third consecutive Dodgers championship would surely help MLB owners push for a salary cap, the Brewers are a living, breathing........

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