The Dodgers went looking for a third consecutive championship. Milwaukee confiscated the calendar.

A 6-4 defeat completed the Brewers’ NLCS sweep, and the indignity for Los Angeles was how little room Milwaukee left for an alternative explanation. No sprawling prosecution of one managerial decision required. The Brewers beat them thoroughly enough that the Dodgers could only tip their caps, an unusually civil response to having October repossessed.

The money follows the surviving team. Every additional home playoff date brings tickets to sell and a stadium to fill. Los Angeles can carry its commercial weight into next season; the remaining postseason business belongs to clubs still playing. Nobody sells admission to a three-peat that nearly happened.

Elsewhere, Dallas exercised its third-year option on Cooper Flagg. There is the useful little distinction between owning a contract and owning the future. The Mavericks can secure another season of their player. The Dodgers have just demonstrated how little paperwork guarantees another week.

For the publisher’s other followed teams, our scoreboard recorded the Lakers losing 121-106 to Denver on October 17. Their next listed game is against Golden State on October 22. Another fixture is already waiting.

Los Angeles baseball gets no such consolation. Milwaukee will play for the championship. The Dodgers’ next home crowd will have to buy tickets for next season.