Dodgers Turn to Tarik Skubal for NLCS Opener Against Brewers

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Tarik Skubal to face Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field in Milwaukee. The matchup brought together two leading pitchers as the teams renewed their postseason rivalry after meeting at the same stage a year earlier.

Both clubs advanced through the National League Division Series, but their paths required them to withstand difficult challenges from the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres. According to truebluela.com, those postseason tests left both teams with experience handling pressure ahead of the championship series.

Milwaukee entered the opener with a notable record behind Misiorowski. The Brewers had won each of his previous 10 starts across the regular season and postseason, including an outing at Dodger Stadium in which he allowed one earned run over six innings, according to truebluela.com.

Misiorowski also demonstrated consistency at home during the regular season. He allowed 16 earned runs across 16 starts at American Family Field, giving Milwaukee a strong statistical foundation for its opening-game pitching plan.

The Dodgers' decision to start Skubal also reflected their broader rotation strategy for a best-of-seven series. According to truebluela.com, placing Skubal first allowed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to follow in the second game, a sequencing decision that had been discussed as an important consideration for the series.

The outlet also pointed to the Dodgers' experience from the previous NLCS, when left-handed ace Blake Snell dominated in Milwaukee to open the series. That precedent provided context for Los Angeles choosing a leading left-handed starter for another postseason matchup against the Brewers.

Milwaukee's main concern entering Game 1 was managing Misiorowski's pitch count while challenging the Dodgers' lineup. In his first NLDS start against the Padres, he exited after four innings while averaging 22 pitches per inning, according to truebluela.com.

That workload made efficiency an important factor for the Brewers. The offense could help by extending at-bats and creating pressure on the basepaths, while Misiorowski needed to avoid lengthy innings to remain effective deeper into the game.

The Dodgers entered as the No. 2 seed, while the Brewers held the No. 1 seed in the National League. Game 1 was scheduled for 5:15 p.m. at American Family Field, with FOX carrying the national television broadcast.