Adding to my earlier comparison to 2011, that year I was cautiously optimistic about the Brewers winning Game 5 because of the home field and crowd and the fact that Gallardo had shut down the DBacks in Game 1. But I was anxious that a loss would wipe out what had been the Brewers best season since 1982.
Today I am essentially resigned to the fact that the Brewers will lose tomorrow, very possibly in a blow out reminiscent of the final game of the 2011 NLCS when Roenicke insisted on starting Marcum, even though he hadn't been effective for several weeks. I am also more jaded about the Brewers ability to advance in the playoffs. The scars from 2021 run pretty deep., The Brewers appeared to have a dominant pitching staff that could lead them through the playoffs, but the bats went completely silent after scratching out a first game win over the Braves.
I know that unexpected things happen in baseball all the time. But this one seems very unlikely. My gloomy mood is also affected by the realization that the Brewers patchwork pitching staff and woodpecker offense, which is struggling to make it through 5 games in 8 days against the Cubs, will be no match for the now healthy Dodgers.