LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning in game one of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is going to be a really interesting series. Can the evil Los Angeles Dodgers, whose ownership has been allowed to run rampant with deferrals and exemptions from revenue sharing payments, three-peat? Or will the scrappy, super-analytical Milwaukee Brewers finally break through and reach the World Series?
We’re going to get a whale of a pitching matchup with which to begin finding out. RHP Jacob Misiorowski will defend home court as he takes on the two-time AL Cy Young winner, and most recent Dodgers superstar acquisition, Tarik Skubal.
The game is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX from American Family Field in Milwaukee, while the ALCS gets underway on Monday night.
LHP Tarik Skubal (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. RHP Jacob Misiorowski (0-0, 4.50 ERA) is the pitching matchup. Here are the starting lineups.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And then there were four.
Tonight marks the first day of the 2026 Major League Baseball Championship series. Fittingly, the teams with the two best regular season records will kick things off.
The Milwaukee Brewers, looking to win their first World Series in franchise history, are the home team and top seed for the National League Championship series. They will turn to young staff ace Jacob Misiorowski to start the series off on a high note and keep the offense of the dreaded Dodgers in check.
Those Los Angeles Dodgers, looking to three-peat as World Series champions, will have left-handed trade acquisition and top pending free agent pitcher Tarik Skubal on the bump.
Who will emerge victorious?
Los Angeles Dodgers (No. 2) at Milwaukee Brewers (No. 1) — 6:00 PM MDT
Pitching Matchup: LHP Tarik Skubal (12-7, 2.72 ERA) vs RHP Jacob Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA)
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers kick off the championship series this Sunday, with a chance to represent the National League in the World Series. These two franchises have met three times in the NLCS, with Los Angeles taking both previous series in 2018 and 2025.
The Brewers come into the series following a franchise-record 103-win season and looking to avenge last year’s sweep at the hands of the Dodgers en route to their World Series win. The Dodgers look to duplicate their dominant pitcher performance from last year, when Milwaukee only averaged one run per game against them in the sweep. Now sporting trade deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal, Los Angeles is trying to keep the starting rotation edge. But, Milwaukee will have Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson going in the first two games, giving them a better chance against the Dodgers compared to last postseason.
These two franchises are the only MLB teams with at least 86 wins in the last nine full seasons, with Milwaukee having the best record in baseball the past two seasons. Los Angeles is chasing a chance to win their third consecutive World Series and become the first NL team to achieve that feat, and the first since the New York Yankees did so in 1998-2000.
The game starts at 7 PM Kauffman Standard Time, live on FOX, FOX Deportes, and FOX One. ESPN Radio will also provide national coverage of this game.
Who are you rooting for on the NL side of the bracket? Can the Brewers dethrone the Dodgers, or is another World Series berth for Los Angeles inevitable?
Brice Turang homered off Tarik Skubal and Milwaukee’s bullpen shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers after Jacob Misiorowski’s taxing outing, sending the Brewers to a 2-1 victory in the NL Championship Series opener on Sunday night.
Luis Lara hit a tiebreaking single off Skubal in the fifth inning as Milwaukee took Game 1 in the first NLCS matchup of 100-win teams since the Cincinnati Reds eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies in 1976. The Brewers had dropped seven consecutive postseason games against the Dodgers, including a sweep in last year’s NLCS.
Game 2 is on Monday in Milwaukee. Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts for the Dodgers, and Logan Henderson takes the mound for the Brewers.
Los Angeles, looking to become the first team to win three straight championships since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, grounded into three double plays, stranded nine runners and went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 2 for 22 in the playoffs.
The Dodgers chased Misiorowski, the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award, in the fifth inning, but they managed just two hits against four relievers.
DL Hall replaced Misiorowski with a runner aboard and got Freddie Freeman to ground into a double play, sending a charge through the rollicking crowd of 42,617. Abner Uribe allowed two hits in the sixth, then struck out Andy Pages with runners on the corners for the final out of the inning.
Aaron Ashby pitched two innings before Trevor Megill got three outs for the save. Kyle Tucker and pinch-hitter Josue De Paula walked with two down in the ninth before Mookie Betts flied to the center-field warning track.
The Brewers are among five current teams that have never won it all.
The Dodgers made Misiorowski throw 35 pitches in the second inning. Pages drove in Shohei Ohtani on a grounded single into right field, and Tucker loaded the bases when he reached on a 10-pitch walk that included four foul balls.
But Misiorowski limited the damage when he got Kiké Hernández to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
Turang responded with a leadoff drive into the home bullpen in the fourth. It was the second career postseason homer for Turang, who went 1 for 15 with six strikeouts in last year’s NLCS.
Sticking with the same brand of baseball that resulted in the majors’ best record this year, Milwaukee went ahead to stay in the fifth.
Garrett Mitchell reached on a leadoff walk and advanced on rookie Cooper Pratt’s sacrifice bunt. Lara, another rookie, then grounded an RBI single into center field. The Brewers loaded the bases with two down, but Skubal escaped the jam when William Contreras flied to right.
Up next
Yamamoto is 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 postseason appearances. The Japanese right-hander pitched a three-hitter in a 5-1 victory at Milwaukee in Game 2 of last year’s NLCS.
Henderson is making his second career postseason start. The right-hander tossed five-plus innings of two-run ball in Milwaukee’s 4-3 win over San Diego in Game 2 of their NL Division Series. He went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles this season.
SACRAMENTO, CA - JUNE 29: Jonathan Hernández #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Monday, June 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight is game one of the NLCS, with the Milwaukee Brewers hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jacob Misiorowski is going for the Brewers against Tarik Skubal for the Dodgers, so that is fun.
It is a 7:00 p.m. Central start time on Fox and FS1.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dodgers at Brewers
Series tied 0-0
First pitch: 8:00 PM EDT TV: FOX Probable pitchers: Tarik Skubal, LHP (LAD), Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (MIL)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after drawing a walk against the San Diego Padres during the third inning in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The National League Championship Series kicks-off tonight with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 tonight. The game is available on FOX and starts at 8PM Eastern. Both teams won 100 or more games during the 2026 regular season with Milwaukee leading all of MLB with 103 wins. The Dodgers disposed of the Atlanta Braves (again) in the NLDS while the Brewers made light work of the San Diego Padres.
There are some notable former Braves playing in this series, headlined by Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and Brewers catcher William Contreras.
Chances are this chat might be a pro-Brew Crew bunch given the less-than-warm-and-fuzzy feelings most Braves fans have toward the Dodgers.
The starting line-ups for both teams are below.
See you in the comments or in the chat of the SB Nation app (which you should download, if you haven’t already).
It's a rematch of last year's NLCS, in which the Brewers suffered an embarrassing sweep as the NL's top seed. But this Brewers team won 103 games and is primed to reach the World Series for just the second time in franchise history.
Sunday's game will air on Fox and can be streamed with Fubo.
What channel is Dodgers vs Brewers game? How to watch
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Oct 11, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; General view before game one of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs between Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The NLCS begins tonight with the Dodgers going to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers.
Let’s talk about it (or about how the Eagles should fire Nick Sirianni).
“I just want to step on his throat,” Murphy said of Dodgers starter Tarik Skubal.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy speaks ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers. AP Photo/Kyla Wolf
The two-time Cy Young winner was highly-coveted at the trade deadline and it was the back-to-back World Series champions who managed to land Skubal in a blockbuster trade with the Tigers. Since his arrival to LA, Skubal is sporting a 2.61 ERA with 70 strikeouts across 61 innings pitched.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after recording the last out in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock
Now, the left-hander has been given the honor of starting NLCS Game 1 for the Dodgers.
It won’t be an easy feat as Skubal will have to fend off a Brewers lineup that is one of the best offenses in baseball. As Murphy hopes, Milwaukee looks to suffocate Skubal on the mound with their quality at-bats and small ball fundamentals.
Opposite Skubal is National League Cy Young candidate Jacob Misiorowski, who is bound to give the Dodgers lineup some trouble.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal talks to reporters ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Kyla Wolf
The matchup will be the Dodgers’ biggest test of October thus far and the competition will be much, much tougher than it was in 2025, when LA swept the Brewers in four games in the NLCS.
Sunday starts with the Dodgers’ crown jewel of the trade deadline — Skubal.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Anthopoulos introduces Walt Weiss as the manager of the Atlanta Braves during a press conference at Truist Park on November 4, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations, Alex Anthopoulos, met with the media earlier today and addressed a handful of issues ahead of the 2027 season.
Among the topics Anthopoulos discussed were that the team plans to give 21-year-old pitcher Didier Fuentes a chance at being in the team’s rotation in 2027, although he may be subjected to an innings limit which could also impact his role as the season progress – assuming, of course, that there is a full 2027 campaign due to the pending lock-out by the owners. Fuentes tossed 97.0 innings between his work with Atlanta and Gwinnett in 2026, when including the post-season.
Any possible 2027 starting rotation construction likely won’t be planned to include neither Spencer Strider nor Spencer Schwellenbach, at least for the whole season, as both are dealing with uncertain futures given their injury issues. Schwellenbach missed all of 2026 and Strider appeared in only eight games.
Anthopoulos provided a few other nuggets, including notes that decisions haven’t yet been made on possible changes to the coaching staff; that the future of two-time PED suspended outfielder Jurickson Profar with the Braves has not yet been decided (the final year of his three-year contract is 2027); and he was glad Austin Riley was healthy all season and complimented his defense while also being optimistic that he offense can regain form.
On the possibility of signing pending free agent pitcher Tyler Mahle, Anthopoulos said they would try to use their exclusive negotiating window to there advantage for Mahle and other of their own free agents. Anthopoulos was also complimentary of utility-man Maurico Dubón’s off-the-field prowess. Dubón, who is also a pending free agent, could be an option at shortstop should he re-sign with Atlanta for the ‘27 season.
Milwaukee has opted for a platoon advantage against Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal Sunday. Yelich, Brewers’ designated hitter and newly-named team captain, will be out for Game 1, but could come off the bench as a pinch-hit option.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich singles during the second inning in Game 3 of baseball’s National League Division Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
“It’s about our team and what’s best for our team today,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters about the decision pregame. “It might not be the whole game, but it’s what’s best for our team today. You look at matchups, history, how a guy pitches a guy.”
For Yelich, the Dodgers are a familiar foe.
Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a single against the San Diego Padres. Getty Images
The Brewers and Dodgers have squared off four times in the last nine postseasons, with LA winning every series. Milwaukee believes the tide will turn in their favor this October.
Yelich, a Southern California native, attended Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks and graduated in 2010. He played varsity baseball all fours years in high school.
Yelich batted .451 with 37 hits, 25 RBIs, and nine home runs his senior year. While he originally committed to play college baseball at UCLA, Yelich was selected in the first-round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Florida Marlins.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal celebrates after striking out Atlanta Braves’ Austin Riley. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Yelich has spent he majority of his MLB career with the Brewers, earning all three of his All-Star selections and the 2018 NL MVP award with Milwaukee.
Now, the Brewers veteran is looking to win his first World Series and the Dodgers are the only thing standing in his way.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Trevor Megill #29 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates the 3-1 win after closing the game against the San Diego Padres in game four of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rematch. A chance for redemption. A chance to rewrite the ending from last season. For the second consecutive year, the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers will face off in the National League Championship Series with the right to advance to the World Series on the line.
Each of the last three times the Brewers have made the NLCS, their opponent has been the Dodgers. 2018 and 2025 were both dates with LAD and 2026 is no different. The Brewers have yet to defeat the Dodgers in a postseason series.
This year, the Brewers appear far better positioned than last to take down baseball’s evil empire. They’re coming off only a four-game NLDS series win against a non-division opponent, so they’ve had three full days of rest to recover and prepare for this matchup. They have three fully stretched out starting pitchers that all had strong performances in the NLDS, as opposed to last year where they had largely just one in Freddy Peralta.
The team feels more confident this year that they can take down the Dodgers. That kind of belief is paramount to success.
On the mound, both teams will be throwing their best. Jacob Misiorowski will get the start for the Brewers, while Tarik Skubal is starting for the Dodgers. The Brewers attempted to trade for Skubal at the Deadline this year, but the Tigers opted to send him to Los Angeles. Now, the Brewers get to face the very player they wanted to have and avoid playing against.
Pat Murphy elected not to make any changes to his roster for the NLCS. It’ll be the same group that faced the Padres in the NLDS.
However, the lineup will change a little bit for Game 1. Christian Yelich, after starting each game of the last series, will be sitting on the bench for this first game. Andrew Vaughn will get his first start of the 2026 postseason and is batting 5th in the lineup as the DH.
“It’s about our team and what’s best for our team today, and it might not be the whole game, but it’s what’s best for our team today. You look at matchups, and you look at history, and you look at how the guy pitches a guy potentially, and what it could bring.” Pat Murphy said.
Jackson Chourio will once again be leading off and playing left field. Murphy has been trying to find the right hitter to put behind Chourio to protect him in the order. Brice Turang will get that nod for Game 1. He will be followed by William Contreras and then Jake Bauers is batting cleanup. Garrett Mitchell will bat 6th and play centerfield. Cooper Pratt follows Mitchell, batting 7th. Another change in the lineup is that Luis Lara will get the start in right field and bat 8th. Then Joey Ortiz rounds out the bottom of the order at third base.
Dave Roberts’ difficult lineup decisions are in as well. Mookie Betts will leadoff with Freddie Freeman batting second. Will Smith will catch and bat third, while Shohei Ohtani is batting cleanup. Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy will follow Ohtani. Then Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, and Kike Hernandez will round out the bottom of the lineup for the Dodgers.
MILWAUKEE –– Dave Roberts struggled to explain his belief.
When asked for the umpteenth time this week about any positive signs he saw from slumping and injury-hampered slugger Shohei Ohtani in the opening round of the playoffs, the Dodgers’ manager couldn’t give a clear reason for optimism.
During his 2-for-13 performance in the National League Division Series against the Braves, Roberts thought Ohtani “did a good job of controlling the [strike] zone.” He said he “saw some better swings” for the 32-year-old, and liked that he at least reached base in all four games (with the help of a couple walks).
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani celebrates winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Still, Roberts didn’t try to pretend the four-time MVP looked to be on the verge of a breakout.
“There’s nothing right now I’m going to hang my hat on,” he conceded, “outside of, I just believe in the person and the talent … I’m just never going to count Shohei out.”
They know the two-way star is still limited by left knee and right arm injuries. They are well aware he hasn’t hit a home run since Aug. 18, mired in a 22-game slump since then (including the regular season and playoffs) in which he has hit .157 and collected only one RBI.
However, hope continues to abound in what feels like an increasingly unlikely turnaround.
“I still think if he’s in the batter’s box, he’s still a threat,” Roberts said. “He swung the bat well against these guys last postseason. Those pitchers, their memories are long. Now it’s just up to Shohei to understand that and control the strike zone. They’re just not going to give in to him regardless of how he might be swinging the bat over the last couple months, in my opinion.”
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani takes batting practice ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Kyla WolfLos Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani works out ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Kyla Wolf
Indeed, it was at this stage of last year’s playoffs that Ohtani emerged from a more routine, non-injury-triggered slump. After going 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts in the NLDS, then just 2-for-11 in the first three games of the NLCS against the Brewers, he exploded for an historic three-homer, 10-strikeout performance in the team’s pennant-clinching Game 4 victory, earning him series MVP honors.
This time, the Dodgers’ expectations are much more tempered.
Roberts only wanted to see Ohtani –– who has not spoken to reporters since before the start of last week’s division series –– find ways to “just get on base [and] take good at-bats,” especially against presumptive Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1 of this year’s rematch.
“Shohei is known for his slug, but when you’re facing Jacob, it’s just you’ve got to take good at-bats,” Roberts said. “If you run into a homer, great. But if you can earn a walk, fantastic.”
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, greets designated hitter Shohei Ohtani before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
For Ohtani and the rest of his Dodgers teammates, that process began during a Saturday night workout at American Family Field, when they tried to calibrate themselves for Misiorowski’s MLB-best 105 mph fastball by not only taking pitches off a velocity machine, but doing so from several steps in front of the plate to simulate the speed of his unprecedented heater.
“That’s actually an Albert Pujols drill,” hitting coach Aaron Bates said. “When Albert was with us in ’21, he used to do that every day before he started. So it just gets the transition [of your swing to happen] quicker and just [trains] the overall tempo. Obviously, Misiorowski throws hard, so it’s a good drill for that.”
Shohei Ohtani is taking BP on the field today
And, like other Dodgers hitters, has been (ostensibly) prepping for Jacob Misiorowski’s 105 mph heater by taking some swings from well in front of the plate pic.twitter.com/lfEqPPd6Fq
For Ohtani, in particular, the focus of his rare on-field BP was “just trying not to flip the barrel so soon,” Bates said, theorizing that Ohtani –– likely because of his injuries –– has been overexerting himself on swings to try and create his normal bat speed and power at the plate.
“I think it happens incrementally,” Bates said. “I don’t think that guys necessarily know when they’re swinging harder. It just happens so minute and such in small little samples that eventually adds up to too much effort. So I think that any drills that you can do to control the effort level will always be beneficial.”
The mental cue the hitting staff has given Ohtani: Focus on sticking a controlled finish with his swing, and “reverse engineer” more consistent mechanics from that.
“His work’s been great in the cages, and even into the games too,” Bates said. “I think it was more about just, again, [about finding] the feels that he wants to feel.”
At this point, it’s just the latest reason for cautious optimism that the Dodgers will be clinging to.
They don’t know exactly how, or why, or when it might happen. But eventually, they are still expecting their blind faith in Ohtani to be validated.
