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Skubal loses steam second time through in NLCS opener vs. Brewers

Tarik Skubal, a staple of consistency in the Dodgers' rotation since his midseason trade, faced his first postseason challenge in eight starts on Sunday night, exiting early in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Brewers. Skubal dominated his first three innings, retiring nine of the first ten batters he faced, including six strikeouts, while allowing only Andrew Vaughn to reach base.

However, his performance unraveled in the fourth inning, when Brice Turang hit a towering 384-foot home run to tie the game after Skubal struggled with command, including a wild pitch that preceded the blast. The Brewers capitalized further in the fifth, scoring two runs to take the lead after Skubal walked Garrett Mitchell and allowed a pair of hits to load the bases before exiting with 81 pitches.

The Dodgers' bullpen took over in the sixth, but Skubal’s early exit marked a rare postseason stumble for a pitcher known for his reliability.

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