The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers will meet in the National League Championship Series for the second consecutive season, with Los Angeles’ dependence on home runs standing as one of its biggest concerns entering the matchup.

Milwaukee’s pitching staff is just as formidable as the Dodgers’ from top to bottom.

The Brewers have demonstrated that they are comfortable using unconventional pitching strategies. They do not need their starters to complete seven innings every night to control a game or put themselves in position to win.

Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson lead Milwaukee’s rotation, but the strength of the pitching staff extends well beyond those two starters.

The Brewers can create difficult matchups through their bullpen and several pitchers capable of working multiple innings. That approach allows Milwaukee to adjust quickly whenever a starter struggles or a particular part of the opposing lineup creates problems.

Those options could be troublesome for a Dodgers lineup that sometimes struggles to produce several effective plate appearances in succession.

The central question is whether Los Angeles can begin capitalizing on scoring opportunities after going 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position during the National League Division Series.

Improving in those situations will be difficult against Milwaukee’s elite pitching staff.

Before Game 4 against the Atlanta Braves, all 10 of the Dodgers’ postseason runs had come from home runs.

Los Angeles finally produced runs differently when Andy Pages delivered a two-run single in the 4-1 win. However, the Dodgers have still struggled to manufacture offense without relying on the long ball.

Depending heavily on home runs can become dangerous against a Brewers team that rarely gives away mistakes.

Milwaukee surrendered only two home runs to the San Diego Padres during the National League Division Series.

Los Angeles possesses enough power to change any game with one swing, but the lineup cannot afford to approach every plate appearance as an opportunity to hit the ball out of the ballpark.

Milwaukee’s pitchers will attempt to use that aggression against the Dodgers by changing speeds, moving the ball outside the strike zone and constantly presenting different looks.

The Dodgers must show enough patience to extend innings and force Milwaukee’s pitchers to work under pressure. Advancing runners, accepting walks and using the entire field would prevent the Brewers from attacking every hitter with the same plan.

Los Angeles also needs better execution when runners reach scoring position. A productive out or a controlled swing can be just as important as another home run during a close postseason game.

The Dodgers’ power remains a dangerous weapon, but it cannot be their only method of producing runs against a pitching staff built to limit damaging contact and avoid costly mistakes.