Cade Smith nabs 34th save vs. Angels Monday

After being swept by the Dodgers in last year’s NLCS, the Brewers have taken a 1-0 lead in their bid to reach the World Series for the first time as a National League club. Lara gave them just enough offense with an RBI single up the middle off of Tarik Skubal that broke a 1-1 tie. The 21-year-old was in the lineup in place of Sal Frelick, and could be back on the bench for Game 2 come Monday with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound. He hasn’t dominated in his MLB time, but there have been more than enough flashes to understand why he is considered one of the top outfield prospects in the sport.

In the top of the second, Pages poked an opposite-field single to score Shohei Ohtani to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. It would be the last run of the game as Jacob Misiorowski and in particular the Brewers’ bullpen was excellent and kept Los Angeles from many scoring opportunities. Pages has driven in three runs thus far in the postseason in five games, and hit .278 in the process.

Turang tied the game with a shot to center off Tarik Skubal in the fourth inning. It was the first homer and RBI of the postseason for Turang, who scuffled a bit in the four-game series against the Padres. He’ll have a chance to build on this one in Game 2 against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers on Monday.

Megill got Max Muncy to pop out and Andy Pages lined out to left before issuing a walk to Kyle Tucker and pinch-hitter Josue De Paula. He left a pitch in the middle of the plate to Mookie Betts, but Betts wasn’t able to get all of it on a flyout to center. It wasn’t pretty, but good enough and the Brewers have a 1-0 lead while Megill has his third save of the postseason.

Skubal was excellent over the first three innings, but allowed a solo homer to Brice Turang that tied the game in the fourth, and a go-ahead single to Luis Lara in the fifth. The southpaw struck out seven in the contest against two walks, and allowed five hits. It was far from a poor effort from Skubal, but it’s fair to say we’ve seen the ace look better. It seems unlikely this will be the last time we see Skubal on the mound for Los Angeles, as he could be available for Game 4 or start Game 5 on regular rest.

Misiorowski had to worked hard, as he threw 94 pitches before being pulled in the fifth. The 24-year-old struck out five while generating 10 swings and misses while topping out at 104 mph and averaging 100.7 with his heater; just a tick above his 100.6 mph average in the regular season. The issue was command, as he threw just 60 pitches for strikes and walked three. Misiorowski could be available for Game 4 if the Brew Crew need him, but more than likely, he’ll be asked to start Game 5 in Los Angeles; assuming there’s no sweep, of course.

Griffin worked in relief during Game 3 of the ALDS against the White Sox, and he limited Chicago to one run in his 2 2/3 innings. The left-hander pitched well for the most part in 2026 with 15 wins and a 3.60 ERA, and he’ll potentially get a chance to start multiple games in the best-of-seven series.

With arguably the best left-hander in the game on the mound for the Dodgers in Tarik Skubal, Yelich will begin the first game of the series on the bench. Andrew Vaughn will be the designated hitter in Yelich’s place and hit fifth. Sal Frelick is also out against the southpaw, so Luis Lara will be the right fielder. The full lineup with Jacob Misiorowski on the mound: Jackson Chourio LF, Brice Turang 2B, William Contreras C, Jake Bauers 1B, Vaughn DH, Garrett Mitchell CF, Cooper Pratt SS, Lara RF and Joey Ortiz at third base.

Hernández got the start at second base in Game 4 against Atlanta, and he’ll do the same for the LCS opener against Jacob Misiorowski and the Milwaukee staff. Tommy Edman will open Sunday’s game on the bench. The full lineup: Mookie Betts SS, Freddie Freeman 1B, Will Smith C, Shohei Ohtani DH, Teoscar Hernández OF, Max Muncy 3B, Andy Pages CF, Kyle Tucker RF and Hernández at second with Tarik Skubal on the mound.

The 29-year-0old southpaw has been shelved since early September due to forearm tightness, and he hasn’t progressed enough to where the Rays feel comfortable bringing him back, even if they were to advance to the World Series. His health outlook remains murky heading into the 2027 season.