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The greatest pitching matchup of the 2026 postseason

The 2026 National League Championship Series kicks off with a historic pitching showdown between two teams already familiar with each other’s strengths after meeting in the same round last year. The Los Angeles Dodgers will send their seasoned ace Tarik Skubal to the mound, while the Milwaukee Brewers counter with Jacob Misiorowski, a left-handed pitcher who has dominated in his last 10 starts—including a six-inning, one-run performance at Dodger Stadium earlier this season.

Both teams advanced through the NLDS with grit, facing tough challenges from the Braves and Padres, and now enter the NLCS battle-tested after grueling regular-season and postseason campaigns. The Brewers, holding home-field advantage, will look to build on Misiorowski’s recent consistency, though his pitch count in Game 1 of the NLDS raised questions about his stamina.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ decision to start Skubal—backed by the flexibility of Yoshinobu Yamamoto as their second option—sets up a potential rematch of last year’s dominant opener, when Blake Snell shut down Milwaukee in the NLCS. With both pitchers at the top of their game, this series could hinge on small offensive advantages, forcing extra pitches and testing the Brewers’ ability to capitalize on pressure situations.

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