They call themselves the “Average Joes” — yet they secured the first NL seed in 2025. Now, all set to face the Dodgers in the NLCS, whom they have dominated in the regular season by winning all 6 games. Ahead of Game 1, the Brewers manager Pat Murphy was playing underdog and stated, “Most Dodger players can’t name eight guys on our roster.” A psychological play that might have worked—if the Dodgers hadn’t decided to run the exact same strategy right back at them.

Murphy’s underdog routine carries a certain irony when you look at the numbers. According to Spotrac, the Dodgers have a payroll of $320 million, while the Brewers operate on $130 million, creating a $200 million gap that frames the Brewers as scrappy overachievers. However, they not only made the playoffs but also secured home-field advantage, defeating the Dodgers twice in the regular season.

Then Andrew Friedman responded. The Dodgers’ president of baseball operations didn’t push back against Pat Murphy’s comments. Instead, he leaned into them. “We’re looking to just win a game against them,” Friedman said as reported by Bob Nightengale. Not to win the series. Not compete. Just win one game. From an executive whose organization can afford nearly any player on the market, it was a calculated concession that flipped Murphy’s narrative entirely.

It wasn’t the first time Friedman positioned his team this way. He sent Murphy a text after Milwaukee clinched: “Congrats, look forward to seeing you. Please see if you can be a little more hospitable than you were with us this season. Thanks for your consideration.”

The Dodgers have been in the playoffs a lot lately. They are going for their third title since 2020 and their seventh appearance in the NLCS since 2016.

On the other hand, the Brewers don’t have as much experience in the postseason. They went to the World Series only once, in 1982, and lost in seven games. They have never won an NL pennant. In 2018, they lost to the Dodgers in the last NLCS run they made.

But the Dodgers aren’t buying Milwaukee’s underdog act. “I’m not falling for the ‘Average Joes,'” Blake Snell said. “They’re not. They have the best record in the NL. They’re a really good team.” Manager Dave Roberts, who once coached alongside Pat Murphy in San Diego, echoed the sentiment. “They’re just gritty, they’re tough,” Roberts said. “So, anything Murph speaks to, in the Lou Holtz vein, we’re not buying, because that’s a very good ballclub.”

Two ballclubs are running the same psychological playbook. The series will reveal whose strategy works better. Murphy’s comments weren’t purely tactical, though. He also recognized the Dodgers’ talent.

From Freeman to Sasaki: Pat Murphy names their best before throwing shade

Pat Murphy didn’t start with jabs; he began with praise. He declared Freddie Freeman “my favorite person, player in the game,” and even if Freeman’s past includes “ruining Brewers history,” he still termed him “a terrific player and an even more terrific person.” Truth be told, Freeman gave the Dodgers a lead in the 6th inning in Game 1 of the NLCS by hitting a homer. Next, he praised Shohei Ohtani, calling him one of the best players of all time, and was amazed by how good he is.

Murphy then moved on to the arms, saying that Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were “really good.” He pointed to Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old rookie who was throwing triple digits with a split, and said, “That shouldn’t be fair.” He joked about asking the league to find something to penalize him for, but the comment sounds more like a rhetorical flourish than a real accusation.

Murphy didn’t stop there. He praised the Dodgers’ depth, saying that Teoscar Hernández is “one of the great dudes in the game” performing “in the clutch.” Miguel Rojas was mentioned specifically: “If he hits against us, he gets a hit. He’s been unbelievable.” Murphy said at the end, “I respect the heck out of them. I really do.”

Murphy isn’t just being polite; he’s aggressively praising his opponent’s strengths. He is blending respect with a competitive edge, letting him tell the story of the underdog while also recognizing how strong the Dodgers are.