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The Milwaukee Brewers said this year felt different. They certainly showed that in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But as two-time defending champs, the Dodgers aren’t about to crumble just because they lost Game 1. L.A. also fell in Game 1 of the NL Division Series to Atlanta, then swept the next three games. Not saying the Dodgers are about to win four straight, but this feels like the start of a special series.
Championship Series Chatter
Brewers Reverse Course, Take Game 1
Final score: Brewers 2, Dodgers 1
Series: Brewers lead 1-0
Next game: Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto) at Brewers (RHP Logan Henderson), today, 5:20 p.m. ET (Fox or FS1)
A year ago, Game 1 of the NL Championship Series was on the verge of changing momentum. All Brice Turang had to do was lean into a pitch, take the bruise and trot to first base. The game would have been tied. Instead, he struck out to end the game, a 2-1 loss. This year, Turang leaned into the pitch. Only in a different way. Because of that, the Brewers won Game 1 2-1, taking the opener of the best-of-seven series against the two-time defending World Series champs. The go-ahead run scored on rookie Luis Lara’s fifth-inning single.
The game was billed as a showdown between Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, and Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, the probable NL Cy Young Award winner this year. Neither was particularly sharp, although Skubal was better. Skubal went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts, while Misiorowski was worked hard by the Dodgers and went just 4⅓ innings, surrendering a run on five hits, while walking three and striking out five. The Dodgers seemed to take a page out of the playbook the San Diego Padres used in Game 1 of the NL Division Series, fouling off triple-digit fastballs in hopes of getting to something off-speed they could do something with.
That is what happened in the second inning. Shohei Ohtani walked and Teoscar Hernández singled him to second. Max Muncy struck out, Misiorowski’s first K of the game, then Andy Pages gave the Dodgers the early lead with a single to right, scoring Ohtani. Misiorowski walked Kyle Tucker to load the bases. Following a visit from pitching coach Chris Hook, Misiorowski induced Enrique Hernández to hit into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the threat. Turang, leading off the fourth, then got ahead of Skubal 2-0 and took a 95.5 mph sinker on the inside corner and drilled it the opposite way into the Brewers’ left-field bullpen to tie the game. An inning later, Garrett Mitchell drew a leadoff walk and was bunted to second, putting Lara in the spotlight. The 21-year-old bounced a single up the middle, with Mitchell scoring. That would be that last run of the game as both bullpens dominated the rest of the way.
In Another League
Rested Rays Ready To Step Into Spotlight
Series: AL Championship Series Game 1
Next game: Guardians (RHP Foster Griffin) at Rays (RHP Drew Rasmussen) in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series, today, 8:20 p.m. ET (TBS)
The Tampa Bay Rays are the best team you know virtually nothing about. OK, maybe you know about Junior Caminero, whose 42 homers tied for the AL lead. But most fans would have trouble giving you the names of three other Rays players. That’s fine. They like it that way. All the Rays did was post an AL-high 98 wins, the third-most in MLB behind the two NLCS combatants. Now, everyone out side the Tampa Bay area will learn just how good these Rays are. Following their three-game sweep of the New York Yankees, the Rays are set to host the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series. The Guardians will be less than 48 hours from their Game 5 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the AL Division Series, while the Rays have been off since clinching their series Wednesday.
The Rays are good at the small-ball things, bunting, stealing, taking bases, but can also hit the long ball, led by Caminero. Their pitching is as good as any other team, led at the front end by Game 1 starter Drew Rasmussen all the way through the back end, anchored by closer Bryan Baker. They are the type of team that causes headaches with their play. The Guardians are bound to be weary from their ALDS, finishing late Saturday night, then traveling to Florida on Sunday for Game 1 today. The opener could set the tone if the Guardians can’t get any length out of their Game 1 starter, left-hander Foster Griffin. Their bullpen put in a lot of innings vs. the White Sox and will need to come through again to make this a series.
⚾ The hope of getting one of their best pitchers back for the ALCS has been dashed by the Rays. Left-handed starter Shane McClanahan has been ruled out for the rest of the postseason, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. McClanahan, one of the better pitchers this season in the AL, has been out since Sept. 3 after experiencing tightness in his left forearm.
By The Numbers
12 Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski threw at least seven pitches to five batters in Game 1 of the NLCS after doing so seven times in Game 1 of the NL Division Series. Those are the two highest totals in any of his starts this season.
4 The homer by Brewers star Brice Turang was just the fourth off Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal on an inside fastball.
22-14 The Brewers were the only team in MLB during the regular season to have a winning record at home when the opponent scores first, going 22-14.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Defensive Wiz
Brice Turang may have homered, but he helped set the tone for this game with this play against Mookie Betts to begin the game.
Passionate Pitcher
In case you weren’t aware, Brewers right-handed reliever Abner Uribe likes to show a little emotion on the mound.
Every Which Way
MLB.com’s Gameday was having a rough time during this at-bat.
Tarik Skubal has got the Brewers all turned around.
— Roger Cormier (@themetsnewsletter.com) 2026-10-12T00:56:23.362Z
Noteworthy News
⚾ The Brewers didn’t make any changes to their ALCS roster, while the Dodgers swapped in left-hander Justin Wrobleski and took off infielder Hyeseong Kim.
Articles You Should Read
In MLB’s final 4, it’s the sport’s biggest spender and 3 budget-savvy rivals — Andy McCullough and Stephen J. Nesbitt, The Athletic
“Maniac” Baker on most dominant run a Rays closer has ever had — Adam Berry, MLB.com
The fan note and team playlist that guided the Guardians to the ALCS — Zack Meisel, The Athletic
