MILWAUKEE — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ acquisition of pitcher Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline failed to yield an immediate advantage in the National League Championship Series opener, as the Dodgers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at American Family Field.
Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award candidate who was viewed by the Dodgers as a key addition in their bid for a third consecutive World Series title, delivered a solid performance. He struck out seven over five innings but allowed two runs, including a go-ahead single in the fifth that ultimately decided the game. His presence on the Dodgers roster also prevented other contenders, notably the Brewers, from obtaining him and facing him on the mound in October.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman acknowledged the strategic significance of the move before the game, noting that while the trade was not solely motivated by blocking potential opponents, it was a factor in increasing their postseason odds. “I’m very happy it’s Skubal versus [Jacob] Misiorowski and not the other way around,” Friedman said.
Misiorowski, the Brewers’ starter and the favorite for the National League Cy Young Award, exited after 4⅓ innings under significant pressure from the Dodgers’ offense. Los Angeles mounted an early 1-0 lead in the second inning without hitting a home run, relying instead on patience at the plate. Shohei Ohtani drew a walk to lead off the inning, followed by opposite-field singles from Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages that brought Ohtani home.
The Dodgers’ approach forced Misiorowski to throw 94 pitches before his departure, though the Brewers soon responded to Skubal in the bottom of the fourth. Brice Turang, a player who struggled in the previous series, connected for a solo home run, tying the score. The Brewers then took the lead in the fifth inning with a sequence of small-ball tactics: a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a groundball single from Luis Lara that drove in the go-ahead run.
The contest featured tense moments amplified by a raucous home crowd, including a disputed balk call against Misiorowski that awarded Hernández second base instead of an out in the fourth inning. Brewers fans vocally protested again after Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia picked off a Milwaukee baserunner in the sixth.
The bullpens from both sides held steady following Skubal’s exit. The Dodgers failed to capitalize on two-out walks in the ninth inning, as Brewers closer Trevor Megill secured the final out by retiring Mookie Betts on a fly ball.
Looking ahead to Game 2, the Dodgers plan to face right-hander Logan Henderson, who previously limited Los Angeles to a single run over seven innings during an August matchup. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reflected on the potential impact had the Brewers acquired Skubal instead, suggesting the series might have unfolded quite differently.
With the series now set at 1-0 in favor of Milwaukee, the Dodgers will seek a timely offensive breakthrough to counter the Brewers’ pitching strength and preserve their hopes for another World Series appearance.