Skubal's Dodgers Open the NLCS in Milwaukee Misiorowski and the 103-Win Brewers Wait

Dodgers vs Brewers Game 1 at a glance

The Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62) open the National League Championship Series at the Milwaukee Brewers (103-59, the best record in baseball) on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, at 8 PM ET (5 PM PT) at American Family Field, on FOX. Expected starters: Tarik Skubal for Los Angeles against Jacob Misiorowski, who led the majors with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts. Kalshi had Game 1 at an even price.

First pitch and TV

Sunday, Oct. 11, 8 PM ET, 5 PM PT. FOX.

Ballpark

American Family Field, Milwaukee. Retractable roof.

Starters

Expected Tarik Skubal for the Dodgers, not yet announced: 12-7, 2.72 ERA, and a 1.97 ERA in seven career postseason starts. Expected Jacob Misiorowski for the Brewers: 16-5, 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and a 1.59 ERA in 17 career innings against Los Angeles.

The price

Kalshi had both sides at 49¢ bid, 51¢ ask, read 11:55 PM PT Thursday. Kalshi’s series market had the Dodgers at 63¢ (Sports Betting Dime, Oct. 8). No sportsbook line was posted at our read.

Health

Expected Shohei Ohtani (biceps, knee) and Freddie Freeman (knee). Questionable Miguel Rojas (back). Out Blake Treinen (shoulder).

The matchup that decides it

Misiorowski’s velocity against the top of a Dodgers order that went 0 for 15 in the division series clincher.

The storylines

A rematch of 2025

The Dodgers swept the 2025 NLCS while Milwaukee scored one run in each game (Sporting News); Milwaukee had gone 6-0 against Los Angeles that regular season, and won the 2026 season series 4-3.

Two 100-win teams

Milwaukee set a franchise record with 103 wins and has home field; the Dodgers won 100.

Skubal in Dodger blue

Detroit traded Tarik Skubal to Los Angeles before the Aug. 3 deadline. Of his division series opener: “It was a ton of fun.” (AP)

Ohtani’s slump

Shohei Ohtani hit .154 in the NLDS while managing right biceps and left knee issues. Dave Roberts: “I really believe that he’s going to come to life at some point.” (MLB.com)

Sources: Sporting News via Yahoo, SI, AP, MLB.com.

Dodgers vs Brewers injury report

From MLB.com’s NLCS previews and SI, read Oct. 9. No Brewers injuries were reported in the sources we read; check the NLCS rosters. Lineups come out on game day.

How the Dodgers and Brewers got here

Dodgers: beat Atlanta 3-1

Skubal threw six innings of one-run ball in Game 1, Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 10 in seven innings in Game 3, and Andy Pages’ bases-loaded hit in the seventh won the clincher. The four starters combined for a 1.69 ERA (MLB.com).

Brewers: beat San Diego 3-1

Every win by one or two runs: 3-2, 4-3 and 3-1. Garrett Mitchell drove in a run, tripled and robbed Manny Machado of a homer in the clincher, and William Contreras hit .375 with two homers in the series.

Where Game 1 gets decided

Misiorowski against the top of the order

Betts, Freeman, Smith and Ohtani went 0 for 15 in the NLDS clincher. Misiorowski has 27 strikeouts and 3 walks in 17 career innings against Los Angeles.

Why it matters: if the top four stay quiet the first time through, Milwaukee only needs a few runs.

Skubal against a contact lineup

The Brewers led the majors in batting average (.258) and on-base percentage. Skubal has 63 strikeouts in his first seven postseason appearances, second only to Bob Gibson’s 74 (AP).

Why it matters: a lineup that puts the ball in play is the one way to run up his pitch count.

Contreras in the middle

William Contreras hit .375 with two homers against San Diego.

Why it matters: Milwaukee scored 13 runs in four division series games and needs his power behind Chourio and Turang.

The bullpens

Milwaukee’s bullpen ERA was 3.40 this season to the Dodgers’ 3.74.

Why it matters: Misiorowski went five innings in his last start, so the sixth through ninth belong to Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill.

Kalshi against the books

Kalshi had Game 1 at 49¢ to sell and 51¢ to buy on both sides at 11:55 PM PT Thursday: an even game. Home field and the better ERA pull toward Milwaukee; Skubal’s postseason record pulls back. The series market had the Dodgers at 63¢, so the market rates Los Angeles the better team even without home field.

The Dodgers’ official starter announcement is the news most likely to move the price.