The National League Championship Series is kicking off with a pitching showdown for the ages, seriously, it’s unparalleled. We’re talking about Tarik Skubal, one of the most accomplished stars on the mound for the Dodgers, going head-to-head with the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, who’s pegged as a likely future Cy Young winner. This Game 1 matchup is setting the stage for what promises to be an epic series.
The Miz on an Absolute Tear
This isn’t just any regular season start, folks; Jacob Misiorowski is on an absolute tear for the Brewers. He’s led them to wins in his last 10 starts, which is just insane consistency. That run includes a gem at Dodger Stadium where he went six innings and gave up just one run. The dude is dominant everywhere, even putting up 16 earned runs in his 16 home starts during the regular season. It’s wild. For the Dodgers, they’re banking on Skubal to lead their postseason charge, and they’ve made it clear how crucial it is to have Yoshinobu Yamamoto ready to pitch second in a seven game series. You might remember last year when another lefty Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, opened against the Brewers in the NLCS and just flat-out dominated in Milwaukee. That worked out pretty well for his team.
Battle-Tested Squads and Grinder Offense
Both these squads have earned their spot, coming off tough NLDS wins that were anything but easy. The Dodgers and Brewers did what was expected of them, sure, but they were pushed hard by the Braves and Padres. So, they’re definitely battle-tested, not just from these past two seasons but from those gritty NLDS series. When it comes to the offenses, you gotta imagine it’s all about the small victories in this kind of pitching duel. We’re talking forcing an extra pitch or two, putting pressure on the basepaths. That’s gonna be especially true for the Brewers, who need to find a way to get to Skubal. Misiorowski himself had some pitch count issues in Game 1 of the NLDS, averaging 22 pitches per inning against the Friars and getting pulled after four innings. That’s definitely something to keep an eye on tonight.
Seriously, if this isn’t a pitcher’s duel, it would be absolutely shocking. You can’t overstate it. This Game 1 is going down at American Family Field in Milwaukee, with the No. 2 seed Dodgers facing the No. 1 seed Brewers. First pitch is set for 5:16 p.m., with FOX broadcasting it, featuring Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci, and Tom Rinaldi on the call. ESPN Radio has Jon Sciambi and Doug Glanville, while local English radio AM 570 has Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday, and local Spanish radio KTNQ 1020 AM has José Mota and Luis Cruz. Get ready, this one’s gonna be a grinder.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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