The Milwaukee Brewers did just enough against Tarik Skubal to draw first blood in the 2026 National League Championship Series. If they hope to take a 2-0 lead over the two-time reigning world champion Los Angeles Dodgers, they must find a way to solve a pitcher who has been spectacular for most of his postseason career.
Milwaukee hosts Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers at 5 p.m. ET in Game 2 at American Family Field. The Brewers were swept by Los Angeles in this round last year and made their only World Series appearance in 1982, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. In Game 1, the Dodgers took the lead on Andy Pages' RBI single, but Brice Turang homered in the fourth and Luis Lara drove in the go-ahead run in the following frame. Relievers Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill kept Los Angeles off the board over the final four innings.
Yamamoto is 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 playoff games since joining the Dodgers in 2024. The 28-year-old right-hander has allowed fewer than two runs in eight of his 11 postseason appearances. Last year he went 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA and was named World Series MVP. Milwaukee counters with rookie Logan Henderson, a 24-year-old righty who won both of his regular-season starts against the Dodgers, allowing one run and five hits with 13 strikeouts over 12 innings.
Elsewhere, the 2026 ALCS opens Monday as the Cleveland Guardians visit the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field at 8 p.m. ET. Left-hander Foster Griffin starts for Cleveland, while Drew Rasmussen, who was four outs away from a no-hitter in Game 1 of the ALDS, goes for Tampa Bay. The week also closes with Monday Night Football, a showdown between the league's past two MVPs as Josh Allen and the Bills face the Rams.
Source: CBS Sports NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing