Brewers and Dodgers set for NLCS rematch starting Sunday
The Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers meet in the National League Championship Series for the second straight year, starting Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox in Milwaukee. Game 1 could feature a duel between Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski and Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal. The Dodgers swept Milwaukee in last year's series.
For the second straight October, the Milwaukee Brewers must get past the Los Angeles Dodgers to reach the World Series. The National League Championship Series opens Sunday at American Family Field in Milwaukee, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
Both teams finished their division series on Wednesday, when the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 to win in four games, and the Brewers then beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in Game 4 at Petco Park, MLB.com reported. That win ended a 12-game road losing streak in the postseason for Milwaukee, which won a franchise-record 103 games this season.
The Game 1 pitching matchup could be special, because although neither team has officially named its starter, MLB.com reported that both clubs are lined up to start their aces: Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski, who led the majors with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts, and Los Angeles left-hander Tarik Skubal, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner who joined the Dodgers in a trade.
Misiorowski's fastball averaged 101.2 mph against the Padres, though he pitched only once in that series and was warming up in the bullpen late in Wednesday's clincher before closer Trevor Megill finished the game.
"We have a monumental task ahead of us," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "There's like an All-Star at every position. But you know what? Teams win."
The Dodgers swept the Brewers in last year's NLCS on their way to a second straight World Series title, the New York Post noted. They are now trying to become the first National League team to win three straight pennants since the St. Louis Cardinals of 1942 to 1944.
Game 2 is Monday afternoon in Milwaukee, and the series then moves to Dodger Stadium for Games 3, 4 and 5 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with Games 6 and 7, if needed, back in Milwaukee on October 18 and 19. Every game will air on Fox or FS1.
The Brewers remain one of five current franchises that have never won a World Series, and this is their fifth trip to the league championship round in team history.
What we know: The series starts Sunday at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee.
What we don't: Who the teams will officially name as their Game 1 starters.
Where outlets agree MLB.com and the New York Post both report that the series, a rematch of last year's NLCS, opens Sunday in Milwaukee.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.