Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas announced his retirement from MLB following his team's National League Championship Series defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, per Sports Central LA. Rojas played 13 seasons in the big leagues, hitting .260/.313/.363 with 1,048 hits, 61 home runs, 386 RBI, 457 runs scored, and 68 stolen bases. The 37-year-old established himself as one of the better-fielding shortstops in baseball during his time with the Miami Marlins early in his career, then transitioned into a super-utility role after joining the Dodgers ahead of the 2023 season. Rojas had some key moments during his time in Los Angeles, including his memorable game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2024 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. In his postgame interview, where he announced his retirement, Rojas said he would like to stay with the Dodgers organization in a non-playing capacity.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) said, "It's going to be hard to keep me off" the team's World Series roster following Milwaukee's NLCS victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Woodruff has not pitched since early July due to shoulder issues, but he's been working his way toward a return and threw 31 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday. The 33-year-old pitched well for Milwaukee during the regular season when healthy, recording a 2-2 record with a 2.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across 45 1/3 innings (nine starts). However, his velocity fell off drastically before he was finally shut down. Given how Milwaukee has pitched so far during the playoffs, bringing Woodruff back would be a risky move.

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers played a starring role for the second straight night in his team's 6-4, series-clinching win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday. Bauers hit a two-run double off Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow in the fourth inning, and then drew a walk with the bases loaded to tie the game at 4-4 in the fifth. The 31-year-old emerged as a surprise cog in the middle of the Milwaukee lineup during the regular season, hitting .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs, 86 RBI, 93 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 578 plate appearances. Bauers has continued to produce for the Brewers in the playoffs, slashing .269/.441/.423 with six RBI across 34 trips to the plate.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby continued his run of postseason dominance in his team's series-clinching 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday. Ashby entered the game in the sixth inning and shut the door on Los Angeles, tossing three scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn his second save of the postseason. The 28-year-old was one of the most valuable relief pitchers in baseball during the regular season, recording a 13-3 record with a 3.12 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 116 strikeouts, 15 holds, and four saves across 89 1/3 innings (75 games). Ashby has been even better in the postseason so far, as he's allowed just four hits, three walks, and zero earned runs across 12 1/3 innings (six games). With his ability to give Milwaukee consistently excellent bulk relief work, Ashby profiles as one of the key reasons why the Brewers are now just four wins away from a World Series title.