The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t just walk into an NLCS; they walk into a narrative. With their payroll, their star wattage, and their expectation of annual October relevance, the Dodgers are both the sport’s model and its favorite villain. Every "neutral" barstool in America seems to find a second team the moment Los Angeles shows up, whoever’s on the other dugout step.
This time, that means the Milwaukee Brewers inherit the country’s underdog energy. There is a pretty big crowd that loves pennant races, but loves watching giants trip even more. The Dodgers know this dynamic well. They’ve built rosters to rise above it.