Tarik Skubal’s Rough Start: How the Dodgers’ Ace Faltered in NLCS Game 1

When the National League Championship Series kicked off at American Family Field, most eyes were glued to the duel between two of the league’s brightest arms – Los Angeles’ Tarik Skubal and Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski. The Dodgers had rolled out Skubal as their ace, hoping his south‑paw dominance would set the tone for a third straight World Series run.

Skubal didn’t disappoint early. He threw two clean innings, striking out three batters and keeping the Brewers off the board. Even the Dodgers’ offense managed to scrape a run in the third, courtesy of an Andy Pages RBI single that nudged the score to 1‑0.

But the momentum shifted after the fourth inning. A leadoff single from Brice Turang was followed by a deep, opposite‑field blast from the rookie Luis Lara that cracked the right‑center wall. The ball sailed over the fence, putting Milwaukee on the scoreboard and immediately erasing Skubal’s early edge.

From there, the veteran south‑paw began to look a little uncomfortable. He walked one batter, allowed a double, and surrendered a pair of runs in the fifth – both earned – on a sequence that featured a bloop single and a wild pitch. By the time he was pulled after 5.2 innings, the box read six strikeouts, five hits, two earned runs, and one walk.

Skubal himself was quick to own the performance, telling the locker room, “I didn’t do my job.” The self‑critique echoed through the stadium, especially as the Dodgers’ bullpen struggled to contain the Brewers, who added an insurance run in the eighth thanks to a two‑run single from Christian Yelich.

For Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the loss was a reminder that even a Cy Young winner can have an off night when the pressure is this high. “We’ve got to keep the pressure off the guys on the mound and let them pitch their game,” Roberts said post‑game.

Milwaukee’s manager Pat Murphy, meanwhile, could barely hide his grin. “I just want to step on his throat,” he joked, referencing Skubal’s reputation. The comment, delivered with a smile, underscored the competitive fire that both clubs will bring to the rest of the series.

Looking ahead, the Dodgers will need a quicker bounce‑back from Skubal or a different starter to keep the series alive. The Brewers, buoyed by a gritty performance from their bench, will look to ride that momentum into Game 2, hoping the early advantage translates into a series lead.