The Los Angeles Dodgers are gunning for their third straight World Series appearance, and the road to history kicks off tonight in Milwaukee in Game 1 of the 2026 NLCS. This is it, folks, the absolute high-stakes baseball we live for, and the Brewers are ready to throw a massive curveball at LA right out of the gate.
The Pitching Matchup Is Straight Fire
Tonight’s showdown at American Family Field is set for 8 p.m. ET, and it features a pitching battle that could absolutely define this series. For the Dodgers, it’s left-hander Tarik Skubal taking the hill, rocking a solid 12-7 record with a 2.72 ERA. He’s been reliable, for sure, but then you look at what Milwaukee is countering with: right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. This dude is coming in with a crazy 16-5 record and an almost unbelievable 1.80 ERA. Seriously, he led Major League Baseball in earned run average. That’s a huge stat to walk into Game 1 of the NLCS with, especially when you’re facing a team trying to make their third World Series in a row. How’s Skubal going to handle the pressure when Misiorowski is on the other side dealing?
High Stakes, Proven Model, and the Big Bet
Both teams had to fight to get here. The Dodgers punched their ticket to the NLCS after taking down the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. They beat the Braves 4-1 in Game 4, securing that series win. Milwaukee wasn’t far behind, knocking out the San Diego Padres 3-1 to win their series in four games. Now, with World Series dreams on the line for the Dodgers, the betting lines are tight. Los Angeles is a -112 favorite on the money line, meaning you risk $112 to win $100. The over/under is set at a low 6 runs, and honestly, that Misiorowski ERA makes you think about the under immediately. But hold up, a proven computer model from SportsLine, which simulates every MLB game 10,000 times and was on a 31-25 run in the divisional round returning over $900 for $100 players, has a different idea. It’s actually going with the Over 6 combined runs. Why? The Over has hit in three of the past six head-to-head matchups, and it’s also 13-12 in Dodgers games after an off day. The model even projects three Dodgers players–Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman–to have 1.3 or more total bases. Ohtani, by the way, has the lowest anytime home run odds at +483, with Max Muncy next at +574.
So, Game 1 is set up to be a total nail-biter. Will Misiorowski continue his incredible season and shut down the Dodgers’ historic quest? Or will Skubal and the LA bats break through? If the model is right, we’re in for some runs, and this series is going to start with a bang. Get ready for some epic October baseball!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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