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 in their matchup with the two-time reigning world champion Los Angeles Dodgers, they must find a way to get to a pitcher who has been spectacular for most of his postseason career. Make your MLB, Monday Night Football and NHL picks at BetMGM Sportsbook with promo code CBSSPORTS and get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses: Milwaukee continues its quest for the second World Series appearance in franchise history when it hosts Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers at 5 p.m.
ET in Game 2 of the 2026 NLCS at American Family Field. The Brewers, who were swept by Los Angeles in this round last year, made their only trip to the Fall Classic in 1982 and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games while residing in the American League.
The Dodgers took the lead in Game 1 on Andy Pages' RBI single in the second inning, but Brice Turang led off the fourth against Skubal with his second career postseason homer and Luis Lara put the Brewers ahead in the following frame with a run-scoring base hit. It proved to be enough for Milwaukee as relievers Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill kept Los Angeles off the board over the final four innings. Owners of the best record in the major leagues during the regular season (103-59), the Brewers now must solve Yamamoto, who is 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 playoff games -- 10 starts -- since joining the Dodgers in 2024.
The 28-year-old Japanese right-hander has allowed fewer than two runs in eight of his 11 overall postseason appearances and seven of the last eight. Yamamoto went 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA and two complete games in last year's playoffs and was named World Series MVP after recording three victories against the Toronto Blue Jays. One of those complete games came in Game 2 of the 2025 NLCS, as he limited the Brewers to three hits and one run while registering seven strikeouts.
Yamamoto was dominant in his debut this postseason, holding the Atlanta Braves to one run and four hits while fanning 10 batters over seven innings in Game 3 of their NL Division Series. Milwaukee counters with rookie Logan Henderson, who made his first career playoff appearance in Game 2 of the 2026 NLDS against the San Diego Padres and allowed two runs -- one earned -- and two hits across five innings of a no-decision. The 24-year-old righty won both of his starts versus the Dodgers during the regular season, permitting one run and five hits with 13 strikeouts over 12 innings.
Yamamoto was effective against the Brewers this year, as well, going 2-0 while giving up two runs and fanning 12 across 13 frames in two outings. The 2026 ALCS begins Monday as the Cleveland Guardians visit Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at 8 p.m.
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