The League Championship Series opens Sunday night with a heavyweight matchup in Milwaukee, and the first pitch in the NLCS comes with all the juice October can offer. The Dodgers are visiting the Brewers for Game 1, and the spotlight lands squarely on the starting pitchers: Milwaukee will turn to Jacob Misiorowski, while Los Angeles counters with Tarik Skubal.
That pairing alone makes this one worth circling. Misiorowski has been the most dominant pitcher in the majors this year, and the Brewers are asking him to set the tone at American Family Field.
Skubal, meanwhile, arrives with serious October credentials. The left-hander has been outstanding in the postseason, carrying a 1.97 ERA and allowing two runs or fewer in six of his previous seven starts while working at least six innings each time.
The Dodgers also made a move at the trade deadline to add Skubal from the Tigers, further loading up a roster that already had plenty of firepower. On paper, it’s exactly the kind of upgrade that fits a team chasing another deep run.
Misiorowski’s first postseason outing wasn’t dominant by his usual standards. In Game 1 against the Padres, he gave up two runs over four innings and struck out six. Even so, the setting should amplify everything about this start, with the Brewers hoping the home crowd can help fuel another strong showing from their young right-hander against the two-time defending champions.
For fans trying to follow the postseason action, NLCS Game 1 is set for 8 p.m. ET on Fox, with streaming available through DIRECTV and Fubo.
The rest of the League Championship Series schedule is spread across Fox, FS1 and TBS. The NLCS will air on Fox or FS1, while the ALCS is on TBS. Games on Fox and FS1 can also be streamed with Fubo, and DIRECTV carries every postseason game live.
Here’s the full NLCS and ALCS schedule:
Monday, Oct. 12
NLCS Game 2: Brewers vs. Dodgers, 5 p.m.
ET, Fox, FS1, DIRECTV, Fubo
ALCS Game 1: Rays vs.
Guardians, 8 p.m. ET, TBS, DIRECTV
Tuesday, Oct. 13
ALCS Game 2: Rays vs. Guardians, 8 p.m.
ET, TBS, DIRECTV
Wednesday, Oct. 14
NLCS Game 3: Dodgers vs. Brewers, 8 p.m.
ET, FS1, DIRECTV, Fubo
Thursday, Oct. 15
ALCS Game 3: Guardians vs. Rays, 6 p.m.
ET, TBS, DIRECTV
NLCS Game 4: Dodgers vs.
Brewers, 9 p.m. ET, FS1, DIRECTV, Fubo
Friday, Oct. 16
ALCS Game 4: Guardians vs. Rays, 6 p.m.
ET, TBS, DIRECTV
NLCS Game 5: Dodgers vs.
Brewers*, 9 p.m. ET, FS1, DIRECTV, Fubo
Saturday, Oct. 17
ALCS Game 5: Guardians vs. Rays*, 8 p.m.
ET, TBS, DIRECTV
Sunday, Oct. 18
NLCS Game 6: Brewers vs. Dodgers*, 8 p.m.
ET, FS1, DIRECTV, Fubo
Monday, Oct. 19
ALCS Game 6: Rays vs. Guardians*, 5 p.m.
ET, TBS, DIRECTV
NLCS Game 7: Brewers vs.
Dodgers*, 8 p.m. ET, Fox, FS1, DIRECTV, Fubo
Tuesday, Oct. 20
ALCS Game 7: Rays vs. Guardians*, 8 p.m.
ET, TBS, DIRECTV
*If necessary
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For the Dodgers, the debate carries extra weight because they have spent recent seasons in the upper tier of the bracket, the sort of position that could turn a format change into a real advantage. If the league moves forward with giving top seeds more control over their path, it would only add to the leverage that comes with playing deep into October from a familiar perch, and the ripple effect could be felt well beyond Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
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Dodgers Face A Familiar Problem To Open The NLCS
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For the Dodgers, it adds another layer to a series that figures to hinge on how quickly they can adjust to a pitcher they have already seen plenty of. Misiorowski has handled Los Angeles well in past appearances, including outings in the 2025 NLCS and the 2026 regular season, and the Brewers clearly believe that history gives them an edge worth leaning on right away. [Read more 🡒]