The Dodgers and Brewers facing off in the NLCS isn’t just another playoff series, but it’s shaping up to be a clash of baseball philosophies. How? Well, it’s because of the massive payroll gap separating the two that the battle is more of a David versus Goliath. And as MLB insider Adam McCalvy put it, the Dodgers “outspend the Brewers by the GDP of a developing nation.”

So, if Milwaukee pulls off the upset, it would go down as one of the biggest shocks in sports history. But if the Dodgers win? Things could get messy beyond the diamond. According to Jeff Passan, a Dodgers World Series title might trigger major ripple effects across baseball, possibly even a long, bitter work stoppage. Hence, the next few months could hinge on how aggressively team owners push for a salary cap or something similar.

“If it’s the Dodgers, MLB owners — who already were vocal publicly and even more so privately about Los Angeles spending as much as the bottom six teams in payroll combined this year — will likely cry foul even louder,” Passan shared.

Well, ever since the Dodgers’ massive offseason two years ago, when they landed Japanese superstars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to join Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, they’ve turned into an absolute powerhouse. Their dominance has sparked fear about whether they’re monopolizing the league. And according to Passan’s predictions, that control could tighten even more in the years ahead.

Now, if the Dodgers, with their record-breaking $500 million-plus payroll, manage to win back-to-back World Series titles, it could fuel the league’s push to rein in spending. Reportedly, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is already eyeing changes that might not sit well with the Dodgers. He reportedly wants to pool all teams’ broadcasting rights and sell them collectively, then split the profits evenly.

So, that’d be great news for smaller-market teams like the Brewers, but could chip away at the Dodgers’ financial advantage.

And with the MLBPA still firmly against any form of salary cap, a Dodgers championship might not just crown a dynasty. But it could light the fuse for another major work stoppage.

The Brewers might prove the Dodgers wrong

Does spending a huge amount always ensure a win? Perhaps not, and the Brewers are proving that.

Well, for the unversed, Milwaukee spent about $121.7 million on its roster this season, while the Dodgers shelled out $350.3 million, the highest in baseball. And hence, that’s a whopping $228.6 million difference between the two clubs.

So, as the Brewers have shown by getting into the NLCS, you don’t need a $350 million payroll to succeed in MLB. Sure, having a smaller budget is a disadvantage. But it doesn’t make success impossible, not when you’ve got smart ownership, a sharp front office, and a strong player development system.

For example, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is playing on a $162 million deal, while Andrew Vaughn has a one-year, $5.85 million contract with the Brewers. However, Vaughn’s OPS+ with Milwaukee (141) is identical to Freeman’s. So, the Brewers are showing the Dodgers how it’s being played more smartly.

For the Brewers, they might not have even been in the conversation for Shohei Ohtani. But through scouting, development, and savvy trades, they’ve built a team that can go toe-to-toe with the Dodgers. So if the Brewers do manage to take down the Dodgers in the NLCS, it would be a powerful statement that money doesn’t always buy championships.

And history shows this wouldn’t be the first time a small-market team defied the odds.

Baseball has always loved an underdog story, and the Brewers’ NLCS run echoes some of the sport’s most iconic upsets. The 2003 Marlins stunned the star-studded Yankees with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.

The 2015 Royals proved that teamwork and defense could outshine big contracts. And in 2019, the Nationals won it all right after losing Bryce Harper. Like those teams, Milwaukee is showing that smart scouting, player development, and belief can still beat deep pockets — keeping the spirit of baseball’s classic “David vs. Goliath” battles alive.