Whitney: Jackson Chourio is rewriting history in October, and he’s staring down the greatest pitching duo in baseball right now. This isn’t just a series; it’s a collision of eras.
Whitney: This is Beatline Podcast Network, home of the daily MLB preview and reaction show. I’m Whitney, and you are listening to the Brew Crew Breakdown.
Terry: And I’m Terry. We are locked in on Milwaukee as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One of the National League Championship Series. It starts Friday night at American Family Field.
Whitney: Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here is what we are tackling today. First, we break down the Dodgers’ massive pitching advantage with Skubal and Yamamoto starting Games One and Two.
Terry: Second, we look at how Milwaukee’s young core, led by Jackson Chourio, matches up against that elite rotation, and whether their lack of power can be overcome by speed and contact.
Whitney: And third, we address the elephant in the room: the Brewers’ injury list. With Brandon Woodruff and Lucas Giolito out for the season, who is actually taking the mound? Let’s dive in.
Whitney: Terry, let’s start with the headline. The Dodgers have dropped Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start Games One and Two. That is an absolute nightmare for Milwaukee’s offense to begin this series.
Terry: It is brutal. Skubal has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball this year. He strikes people out at an elite rate and keeps his launch angle low. Facing him in Game One at home puts immediate pressure on the Brewers' lineup.
Whitney: And then Yamamoto in Game Two? That’s two days of facing top-tier talent. How does Milwaukee handle that early adversity?
Terry: They have to play disciplined baseball. No chasing sliders away from the plate. You look at Jackson Chourio—he’s only twenty-two, but he’s already setting records in October. His ability to make contact against high-velocity stuff is his biggest weapon.
Whitney: Right, and we talked about this yesterday. Robert Gasser was incredible against San Diego. But now he’s going to need to go deep into games because if Milwaukee loses Game One or Two, they might not have another quality starter ready to go.
Terry: Exactly. The bullpen becomes everything. Aaron Ashby and DL Hall were mentioned as critical pieces last time, and they still are. If Gasser gets shelled by Skubal, you’re looking at heavy usage of the relief corps immediately.
Whitney: That is a scary thought for the manager. But let’s talk about the Dodgers’ defense behind these pitchers. They are built for this. They don’t make mistakes. So Milwaukee can’t rely on errors.
Terry: Correct. And that brings us to the Brewers' identity. They aren’t a power team. They are a contact-and-speed team. Garrett Mitchell gave them that spark with the triple and defensive catch against SD. He needs to do more of that.
Whitney: Mitchell is a difference-maker in center field. But can he generate enough offense against Skubal? That’s the big question. Stick with us, because we’re going to talk about the injuries that are haunting this roster next.
Whitney: Hey everyone, before we get into our next segment, I want to take a quick second. Our show stays free every single day because of listeners like you. There are no ads, no paywalls—just pure baseball talk. If you enjoy what we do, please consider supporting us via the link in the episode description. It helps keep the lights on and the coffee brewing. Thank you so much.
Whitney: Welcome back. Let’s talk about the injury report. This is where things get tricky. The Brewers are dealing with a significant absence in the starting rotation.
Terry: Brandon Woodruff is on the 60-Day IL. Lucas Giolito is also on the 60-Day IL. Quinn Priester, Angel Zerpa, and Brian Fitzpatrick are all out for the season. That is a huge chunk of arms gone.
Whitney: So, who is left? We have Robert Gasser, Shane Drohan, Kyle Harrison, Logan Henderson, and Jacob Misiorowski in the rotation mix. Plus Dustin May coming over from the other side? No wait, Dustin May is on the roster? Let me check.
Terry: Dustin May is listed on the Brewers' roster. That is interesting. He has experience, but he’s been banged up. The question is whether he’s ready to pitch in the NLCS. Probably not Game One.
Whitney: Okay, so Gasser is likely the only reliable arm left for the first couple of games. What about the position players? We know Miguel Andujar is on the 10-Day IL. Gavin Sheets and Adrian Morejon are day-to-day.
Terry: Sheets being day-to-day matters because he provides some pop off the bench. Without him, the Brewers are relying heavily on William Contreras and Jackson Chourio to carry the load.
Whitney: Contreras has been solid all year. But against Skubal? That is tough matchup. Skubal eats left-handed hitters alive. Contreras is a switch-hitter, but he leans left.
Terry: True. And that’s why David Hamilton at third base and Joey Ortiz at short stop become vital. They put the ball in play. They don’t strike out much. Against a pitcher like Yamamoto in Game Two, you need guys who can manufacture runs.
Whitney: Manufacturing runs. That’s the key phrase. The Brewers don’t hit 30-home run games often. They win on small ball. But can small ball beat Skubal and Yamamoto?
Terry: It has to. If they try to homer, they will lose. They have to bunt, steal bases, and use Garrett Mitchell’s speed to terrorize the Dodgers' infield. It’s risky, but it’s their only path.
Whitney: I agree. And the bullpen—DL Hall, Trevor Megill, Chad Patrick, JoJo Romero, Abner Uribe, Antonio Senzatela, Aaron Ashby. That’s a lot of arms, but none of them have playoff experience like the Dodgers’ relievers.
Terry: Experience counts. In the playoffs, your best reliever gets called upon in the eighth inning. If Milwaukee’s relievers are inexperienced, one mistake ends the game. It’s high stakes.
Whitney: High stakes indeed. Let’s move to Segment Three. Keys to the series and a bold prediction. Terry, what is the number one key for Milwaukee to win this series?
Terry: Control the count. Against Skubal and Yamamoto, you cannot be aggressive early in the count. You have to work the pitches, get to five or six pitches per at-bat, and hope the pitcher makes a mistake.
Whitney: Patience. That’s hard when you’re down 1-0 in the series. But if they lose Game One, they need to bounce back in Game Two. Who do you see starting for Milwaukee in Game Two?
Terry: Robert Gasser. He’s the only guy who looks sharp right now. He pitched well against San Diego. He knows how to go deep into games. But he needs support.
Whitney: Support from the offense. Jackson Chourio is having a record-setting October. Buster Olney even wrote about why he sees the Brewers knocking out the Dodgers. Why does Olney think that?
Terry: Because Chourio is fearless. He doesn’t care if it’s Skubal or Yamamoto. He swings. And sometimes, fearlessness beats technique. If Chourio gets hot, the Dodgers’ pitchers might crack under the pressure.
Whitney: Fearlessness. I love that. So my bold prediction? The Brewers split Games One and Two. Skubal takes Game One, but Chourio and company steal Game Two at home.
Terry: I’ll go further. I think the Brewers win Game Two, but lose the series in six games. The Dodgers’ depth is too much. But Milwaukee wins at least one game on the road if they play smart.
Whitney: Six games. A tight series. This is going to be electric. Friday night is the start. Don’t miss it.
Whitney: That wraps it up. The Brewers face the Dodgers in the NLCS. Skubal and Yamamoto start the first two games. Chourio is the hero. Who do you think wins the series? Let us know on social media.
Terry: Subscribe, rate, and review Beatline. We bring you daily analysis, free and without ads. Your support keeps us going.
Whitney: Go Brewers! See you next time on the Beatline Podcast Network.