The Los Angeles Dodgers can beat anyone in October.

But from April to September? They can't solve the Milwaukee Brewers.

Milwaukee defeated the Dodgers again Thursday night, making it nine consecutive regular season victories over the National League powerhouse. Nine straight. And the craziest part? The Dodgers won the World Series last year.

Folks, baseball is funny like that. Some teams just have your number.

"We know it's just the regular season," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said with a smile. "But it's nice to keep the streak going."

Let's put this in perspective: The Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and a $300 million payroll. They're built to dominate. They won 98 games last year and raised a championship banner.

And they can't beat the Brewers when the games don't count.

Milwaukee has found the formula. They pitch them tough, they play small ball, they manufacture runs. Everything the Dodgers struggle with in the regular season - situational hitting, playing close games, dealing with aggressive base running - the Brewers exploit.

Of course, when October rolls around, it's a different story. The Dodgers beat Milwaukee in the playoffs last year en route to the World Series. But something about facing the Brewers in May, June, and July just doesn't work for LA.

"It's baseball," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, shrugging off the streak. "We'll see them in October, and that's when it matters."

Maybe. But you know what? Nine straight is nine straight. That's not a fluke. That's not luck. The Brewers own the Dodgers in the regular season, and there's no getting around it.

Can the Dodgers still win another championship? Absolutely. But can they beat Milwaukee before the playoffs?