There are 4 teams left in MLB’s postseason. Who ultimately prevails could say a lot about the league’s future

This year’s National League Championship Series (NLCS) rematch between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers holds heavy stakes – for the two teams, and potentially the future of MLB. The high-priced Dodgers are setting their sights on becoming only the fifth team to ever three-peat while thrifty Milwaukee’s out for redemption on the way to their franchise’s second World Series appearance. The rest of the league is watching closely to see how the battle of payrolls shakes out. It’s no secret that the Dodgers have spared no expense in assembling one of baseball’s most-envied rosters. In just the last two years, the team won back-to-back championships and ranked among the league’s top three most expensive payrolls. Back in the NLCS this year, LA is the second-highest payroll in all of Major League Baseball, spending about $338 million. The Dodgers’ Midwestern opponent sits in the bottom half of the league when it comes to spending. With about $143 million on the books, the Brewers rank 19th in payroll. Before Game 1 of the NLCS was played, Brewers general manager Matt Arnold was asked about the premise of small market teams like Milwaukee not being able to compete with powerhouse franchises like Los Angeles and the two teams in New York. “Nobody here is worried about that right now,” Arnold answered. “We’re focused on trying to win, and I think we have for a while. Regardless of what the economics look like, the guys in there believe, and so do I.” It makes sense for them to believe. Going into Wednesday’s Game 3, the Brewers have a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. With the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the players’ association set to expire in December, the biggest topic of conversation surrounding upcoming negotiations has been the league’s proposal to implement a salary cap and floor. It’s a potentially monumental shift for MLB, the only major American sports league without a salary cap. Front offices with wealthier owners would no longer be able to throw the bag at players with no regard for the bottom line (aside from the league’s luxury tax). Stars would be spread out more evenly across the league. Scouting and developmental programs would become overwhelmingly vital overnight. A salary cap would introduce a fundamental change to the way teams are built. And three of the four teams remaining in the postseason might just be giving the rest of the league the blueprint on how to do it. While the Dodgers’ deep pockets have come with consistent success, this year might prove that teams don’t need to break the bank to build World Series-ready rosters. After the Brewers’ two wins to open the NLCS, the Dodgers trail in a postseason series for the first time since 2024. But it’s not just the cost-effective top-seeded team in the National League that Los Angeles needs to worry about – the American League has two thrifty contenders that could also pose a threat to the defending champions’ reign. The Cleveland Guardians advanced to the ALCS while spending just over $74 million, ranking dead last in payroll league wide. The fourth team in World Series contention, the Tampa Bay Rays, stands just above the Guardians in payroll at 25th, with about $98 million on the books. Prior to the first game of the ALCS, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt praised the Tampa Bay and Cleveland general managers respectively. “Eric Neander and Chris Antonetti are two of the best people in baseball,” Vogt said. “And they’re really good at what they do – and building teams very differently than some of the teams around the league.” The three non-Dodgers teams remaining in the postseason all spent less than half of what LA did on its personnel. The Brewers’, Guardians’ and Rays’ total salaries combined ($315 million) still come out to less than the Dodgers’ $338 million. With a possible salary cap coming, teams might be looking closely at the other three going forward rather than the Dodger way. Throughout the year, these frugal teams have accomplished quite a bit while matching up against the league’s high rollers. The Brewers finished the season with the best record among all 30 teams, entering the postseason with 103 regular-season wins. The Rays had the best record in the American League. The bargain Guardians clinched the American League Central title and earned a bye in the playoffs. Meanwhile, this year has seen some pricey teams peter out early. The most expensive team in baseball, the New York Mets, didn’t see the postseason this year. The fifth-highest payroll, the Toronto Blue Jays – seen as serious competitors for the AL East title – saw their season end before October. The New York Yankees, the third-most expensive team in the league and a trendy pick to win the World Series, were swept by the Rays in the ALDS. The Brewers, Rays and Guardians aren’t the flashiest of teams. They don’t primarily rely on big-name sluggers but rather believe in the kind of analytics that lead to the front office emphasizing players with contact skills that put the ball in play. Fundamental fielding, smart baserunning and the entire roster, top to bottom, are necessary for their success. “Good teams do not rely on just one or two people,” Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said after their Game 2 ALDS win against the Yankees. “We rely on all nine in the lineup, the guys on the bench and certainly our entire pitching staff.” So far, it’s translated to wins.