There's a catch in how Milwaukee won. They needed 4 relievers to protect a 1-run lead in a night game, and Game 2 starts in the afternoon. If Henderson can't get deep, Pat Murphy's options come out of a bullpen that just carried almost half a game. Los Angeles is thin in relief too, with Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Ben Casparius, Jake Cousins and Will Klein all on the IL. So whichever starter goes longer probably decides this one.
Both clubs came in sharp. The Dodgers won 3 of 4 against Atlanta to reach this round, mostly with pitching: they held the Braves to 1 run in each of their last 2 wins. Milwaukee won 3 of 4 over San Diego, and 3 of those 4 games were decided by 1 run. That's how this team plays. Sunday was more of the same.
The injury lists mostly hit the pitching. On the Milwaukee side, Brandon Woodruff is still waiting on clearance to throw off a mound, and Quinn Priester, Angel Zerpa, Brian Fitzpatrick and Grant Anderson are all on the IL. The Dodgers have lost several relievers they'd normally use in the 7th and 8th. Treinen is the one with an outside chance to come back, after Andrew Friedman said he hasn't been ruled out for the postseason.
Milwaukee owns home field and has the lead, and it has a young starter who has never really been hit hard. Los Angeles has the better-known starter and a lineup that can't go quiet 2 games in a row. A win sends the Dodgers home level. A loss means the 103-win Brewers have both games at home in hand before anyone gets on a plane.