Skubal Gets the Ball: Dodgers Chase a Three-Peat as NLCS Rematch Opens in Milwaukee

Sunday night in Milwaukee is not a soft open. It's a rematch with a chip on it.

The Dodgers open the National League Championship Series on the road against the Brewers, and manager Dave Roberts has handed Game 1 to Tarik Skubal, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto lined up for Game 2, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez and the Associated Press.

First pitch: Sunday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT at American Family Field on FOX / FOX Deportes / FOX One, per MLB.com. Game 2 is Monday at 4 p.m. CT, also in Milwaukee.

Why Skubal, and why now

Skubal is the August 2 trade-deadline acquisition from Detroit — the lefty the Dodgers swung big for. In NLDS Game 1 against Atlanta he threw six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts, per Gonzalez. Yamamoto answered in Game 3 with seven innings of one-run ball to outduel Chris Sale.

That's the rotation vibe LA wants: two aces, short leash on chaos.

Blake Snell is the likely Game 3 option when the series shifts to Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Gonzalez reported, with Tyler Glasnow the probable Game 4 arm. Roberts held off naming anyone past the first two starts.

Milwaukee's answer

The Brewers are expected to counter with likely NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1 and Logan Henderson in Game 2, per ESPN. Misiorowski led the majors in ERA (1.80), strikeouts (252), WHIP (0.80) and opponents' average (.157) in the regular season, per MLB.com's Game 1 preview.

Skubal has allowed six runs (five earned) in 12 innings against Milwaukee this season. Yamamoto allowed two runs in 13 innings vs. the Brewers in 2026 and threw a complete game against them in Game 2 of last year's NLCS sweep, allowing one run — also per Gonzalez.

Rematch energy

Last October, the Dodgers swept Milwaukee out of the NLCS. NBC Sports' Phil Akre noted LA has beaten the Brewers in all three prior postseason meetings (2018 NLCS, 2020 Wild Card, 2025 NLCS). Milwaukee finished 103 wins as the majors' best regular-season club and took the 2026 season series 4-3, per NBC Sports.

So: the higher seed gets Games 1–2 (and potential 6–7) at home. Revenge story, meet three-peat chase.

The Dodgers are trying to become the first National League team ever to win three straight World Series, a stake the AP flagged as LA closed out the Braves.

Full NLCS slate (times CT, per Fond du Lac Reporter / USA TODAY Network)

• Game 1: Sun Oct 11, 7 p.m., American Family Field
• Game 2: Mon Oct 12, 4 p.m., American Family Field
• Game 3: Wed Oct 14, 7 p.m., Dodger Stadium
• Game 4: Thu Oct 15, 8 p.m., Dodger Stadium
• Game 5:* Fri Oct 16, 8 p.m., Dodger Stadium
• Game 6:* Sun Oct 18, 7 p.m., American Family Field
• Game 7:* Mon Oct 19, 7 p.m., American Family Field

*if necessary

What to watch Sunday

• Skubal's early command. If he gets to the sixth again, LA's bullpen math stays clean.
• Misiorowski vs. a shuffled Dodgers order. MLB.com noted Shohei Ohtani's recent struggles and the chance Roberts shuffles matchups; Mookie Betts remains the table-setter in projected lineups.
• Brewers home energy. Last year's sweep still lives in that building. One early crooked number and the rematch narrative writes itself.

Our take (opinion): Skubal-Misiorowski is the kind of Game 1 that feels like a conference final before the series even starts. Los Angeles has the recent October résumé. Milwaukee has the regular-season receipt and home field. Whichever story wins Game 1 owns the series narrative for a week.

Set your alarm. Or just keep the FOX app open. Three-peat or payback starts at 5 p.m. PT.