Brewers Edge Dodgers 2-1 Behind Strong Bullpen in NLCS Game 1

Brewers take Game 1

The Milwaukee Brewers snapped a seven game postseason losing streak against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night. Milwaukee earned a 2-1 victory at American Family Field in the opening game of the National League Championship Series.

Brice Turang started the comeback with a leadoff home run in the fourth inning off Tarik Skubal. It was Turang's second career postseason home run. In the fifth inning, Garrett Mitchell walked and Cooper Pratt moved him over with a sacrifice bunt. Rookie Luis Lara then brought Mitchell home with a go ahead single to center field.

This matchup features two 100 win teams meeting in the NLCS for the first time since 1976, when the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bullpen shuts down Dodgers

Jacob Misiorowski started for Milwaukee and worked through some tough spots. The NL Cy Young Award favorite threw 35 pitches in the second inning. Andy Pages drove in Shohei Ohtani to give Los Angeles an early lead. Misiorowski avoided further damage when Kike Hernandez bounced into an inning ending double play with the bases loaded.

Los Angeles chased Misiorowski in the fifth inning, but Milwaukee's bullpen took over. DL Hall entered with a runner on base and got Freddie Freeman to ground into a double play in front of 42,617 fans. Abner Uribe struck out Pages to end the sixth with two runners on. Aaron Ashby covered two scoreless innings before Trevor Megill closed out the ninth for the save. Mookie Betts flied out to the center field warning track with two runners on base for the final out.

The Dodgers grounded into three double plays, left nine runners on base, and went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

Pitching matchup for Game 2

Game 2 takes place on Monday in Milwaukee. Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound for Los Angeles against Milwaukee right hander Logan Henderson.

Yamamoto is 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA across 11 postseason appearances. He pitched a three hitter in a 5-1 win at Milwaukee in Game 2 of last year's NLCS. Henderson is making his second career postseason start. He went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles during the regular season.

What it means for the next game

Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers (MLB, Mon, 12 Oct): Milwaukee Brewers win 43%, Los Angeles Dodgers win 57%; projected score Milwaukee Brewers 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 4. Our safest pick: Brewers +3.5. Our best value pick: Over 7 runs.

Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB, Thu, 15 Oct): Los Angeles Dodgers win 49%, Milwaukee Brewers win 51%; projected score Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Milwaukee Brewers 4. Our safest pick: Brewers +2.5.