The Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Diego Padres on October 9, 2026 to reach the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a rematch of last year's sweep by Los Angeles. Milwaukee won Game 1 on October 12, 2-1, and its bullpen threw five no-hit, no-walk innings in Game 2, a postseason first. The Brewers are 172-102 since June 6, 2025, and hold home field. The discussion weighs the two as the best teams in the NL, notes that the last six times the Dodgers won 100 or more games they did not win the World Series, and turns to proposed rules cutting the season to 154 games, letting top seeds pick opponents, and making the Division Series seven games.