Why Dodgers were voted by MLB execs as not being 'team to beat' in NL

Coming into the 2026 MLB season, and for most of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers were viewed as the obvious favorite for the World Series.

Even now, despite some issues, they should still be viewed as the top World Series contender. But that isn't how they're viewed in the opinion of some MLB executives.

Jesse Rogers of ESPN shared the results of a poll of MLB execs that the Milwaukee Brewers, not the Dodgers, are the "team to beat" in the NL this season. The reason why is simple: concerns about Shohei Ohtani and the lineup in L.A.

Why Dodgers aren't team to beat in NL per MLB execs

"The NL's team to beat is ... Milwaukee Brewers: 6 votes. (Los Angeles Dodgers, 5; Philadelphia Phillies, 4; Chicago Cubs, 1)," Rogers shared.

Thanks in large part to the Brewers' elite pitching staff, led by the likely NL Cy Young winner in Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee earned the most votes for being the team to beat coming out of the National League.

While the Dodgers are sure to be a top contender, and they were only one vote behind the Brewers in this poll, there is ever so slightly more belief in the Brewers than the Dodgers right now.

Considering Ohtani's on the injured list, Kyle Tucker has been a massive letdown, and the majority of the lineup has been underwhelming; it's not that big of a shocker to see more belief in the Brewers.

MORE: Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski makes all kinds of MLB history with 1,000 pitches of 100 mph

Ohtani obviously plays a huge role in the Dodgers not being seen as the team to beat in the NL. If he were fully healthy and pitching at a high level on top of his elite hitting, then the Dodgers would likely easily be the team to beat.

But without their best hitter and arguably their best pitcher, there's a real reason to worry about this Dodgers team come October.

They're going to be a tough matchup, but it might not be as difficult of a series for another contender thanks to Ohtani's health and the other issues on the team that have resulted in a slightly underwhelming season, at least by the Dodgers' standards.

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