Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers meet in the National League Championship Series starting Sunday, October 11, 2026, at American Family Field, featuring a pitching duel between Tarik Skubal and Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1 as both powerhouse franchises chase the pennant.
Tarik Skubal and Jacob Misiorowski Pitch Game 1 in Milwaukee
The opening game of the National League Championship Series places two of baseball’s most dominant arms on the mound at American Family Field. The matchup between Tarik Skubal and Jacob Misiorowski is described as an absolutely electrifying encounter between starters.
Skubal toes the rubber for Los Angeles following a regular season where he posted a 2.72 ERA across 26 starts, including a 2.61 mark after joining the team via a trade on August 1. Across the diamond, Milwaukee counters with Misiorowski. During the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, Misiorowski’s four-seam fastball touched 104.8 mph and averaged 101.2 mph.
The first matchup of the series presents a battle between the top-ranked pitcher in the sport (Skubal) and the fourth-ranked arm (Misiorowski), offering what observers view as an electrizing starting duel. Skubal is slated to be available for a potential fifth game on normal rest, while Misiorowski is the favorite for the 2026 National League Cy Young Award. Skubal spent 44 days on the shelf during the summer after requiring surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow, but has shown minimal rust since returning. He previously made six postseason starts as a member of the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and 2025, posting a 2.04 ERA while never pitching fewer than six innings or allowing more than two runs except in a single outing.
Teams Meet Again in Postseason History
This series marks the fourth postseason meeting between the two franchises and their third clash specifically with the National League pennant on the line as outlined by historical data. The Dodgers have made 11 appearances in this round across the last two decades.
- 2018 NLCS: Los Angeles defeated Milwaukee in a seven-game series before falling in the World Series pursuant to league records.
- 2020 Wild Card Round: The Dodgers swept the Brewers in a two-game sweep.
- 2025 NLCS: Los Angeles swept Milwaukee in four straight games on their way to a second World Series title.
During the 2026 regular season, however, Milwaukee won four of the seven head-to-head matchups, giving the club confidence heading into the rematch.
Dave Roberts Shapes the Dodgers Rotation
Closing out the Braves in four games allowed manager Dave Roberts to line up his pitching staff without burning Skubal in an unnecessary fifth game according to team management. Roberts confirmed that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound for Game 2 on Monday. Dodgers officials planned ahead during the Division Series by having Yamamoto pitch Game 3 against Atlanta instead of Game 1, enabling him to pitch on regular rest.
Yamamoto enters the series following a regular season and postseason where his durability proved vital. Manager Dave Roberts noted that the rotation serves as the backbone of the club’s pursuit of a third World Series title, stating that productive starts make things easier for the team and the bullpen.
Behind Skubal and Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow round out the starting options.
Series Opens October 11 at American Family Field
The best-of-seven series opens Sunday, October 11, 2026, with Game 1 scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT / 18:00 hours Central Mexico time) at American Family Field as confirmed by network schedules. Game 2 follows on Monday, October 12, at 5:00 p.m. ET in Milwaukee. After a travel day on Tuesday, the series shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 14, and Game 4 on Thursday, October 15. If necessary, Game 5 is set for Friday, October 16, in California, while a sixth game would take place Sunday, October 18, and a seventh on Monday, October 19, in Wisconsin.
In the United States, FOX carries the English-language broadcast, while FOX Deportes provides Spanish coverage, with streaming available through FOX One according to platform listings. Fans in Mexico can watch the games via FOX One and the FOX television network pursuant to local broadcast agreements.