The Los Angeles Dodgers have set their starting rotation for the opening games of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, as reported by Reuters.
Dodgers Set Postseason Rotation After Division Series Victory
Coming off a 3–1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series, the Dodgers sit eight wins away from capturing a third World Series title. Manager Dave Roberts outlined the pitching plan on October 9 ahead of the series opener on October 11, confirming that Skubal will take the mound first at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
Skubal enters the NLCS opener following a strong Division Series start against Atlanta where he allowed one run across six innings while striking out seven batters. The Game 1 matchup projects as a duel against Brewers hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Shifted to Game 2 to Manage Rest Days
Yamamoto moves to the Game 2 assignment after pitching the third game of the Division Series against the Braves, where he threw seven innings of one-run ball with 10 strikeouts to earn the win. Roberts explained that the scheduling adjustment is designed to align with Yamamoto’s physical recovery rhythm throughout the season.
“We considered the feasibility of having him pitch Games 2 and 6, taking travel days and the game schedule into account to evaluate what conditions would benefit him most,” Roberts said of the decision.
Under the current blueprint, Skubal could return on four days of rest to pitch a potential Game 5. Meanwhile, Yamamoto receives five days of rest following his last outing and will maintain that five-day interval ahead of a potential Game 6 appearance, bypassing a strict four-day turnaround he has not yet experienced.
Familiar Matchups and Historical Precedent Against Milwaukee
Yamamoto brings an established track record against the Brewers into the series. During the regular season, he faced Milwaukee across 13 total innings, allowing just two runs. In last year’s National League Championship Series, he threw a complete-game win in Game 2 against the Brewers, yielding only three hits and one run over nine innings.
The National League Championship Series opens on October 11, with the Dodgers traveling to Milwaukee for the first two games of the pennant round.
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