Whitney: Jackson Chourio is on fire, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing Tarik Skubal to the mound. Can the Brewers’ young star silence the league’s best pitcher in Game 1 of the NLCS? We’re breaking down everything you need to know before first pitch tomorrow night.
Terry: It’s a clash of styles. Milwaukee’s speed and small ball against LA’s heavy artillery. This series is going to be defined by who wins the pitching duel early.
Whitney: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Whitney, alongside Terry. If you’re new here, we are America’s number one daily sports podcast network, and today we are fully locked into the National League Championship Series.
Terry: Happy Friday, fans. The road to the World Series starts now. It’s Brewers versus Dodgers, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Whitney: Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s lay out what’s coming up. First, we’re looking at the pitching matchup for Game 1—Skubal vs. whoever Milwaukee sends out. Second, we’ll dive into Jackson Chourio’s playoff resume and how he handles LA’s defense. And third, we’re talking about the Brewers' injury report and what it means for their bullpen usage in this series.
Terry: Sounds like a solid plan. We’ve got a lot to unpack with these two teams.
Whitney: Let’s jump right into Segment One: The Series and the Pitching Probables.
Whitney: Okay, Terry, let’s start with the elephant in the room. The Dodgers have confirmed Tarik Skubal is starting Game 1. That is arguably the most dominant left-handed pitcher in baseball right now. How do you feel about that opening round assignment?
Terry: It’s a bold move by Dave Roberts. Skubal has been electric all year. For the Brewers, this is a test of their plate discipline immediately. They can’t afford to chase early in the count against him. Their OBP needs to stay high if they want to keep that game close.
Whitney: Right, and we know Milwaukee has struggled with strikeout issues against elite velocity in the past. But remember, they just swept the Padres in the NLDS. Robert Gasser was phenomenal in those series. Do you think Milwaukee sticks with Gasser for Game 1, or do they go with someone else?
Terry: I’d expect them to stick with Gasser. He’s got the momentum. Garrett Mitchell made that critical defensive play to secure their spot in the NLCS, and Gasser pitched behind him beautifully. Sending Gasser out against Skubal is a statement game. It says, 'We’re not intimidated.'
Whitney: That’s a huge gamble though. If Gasser gets shelled early, does Milwaukee lose confidence? Because after Game 1, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start Game 2. So if the Brewers drop Game 1, they’re facing Yamamoto in Game 2 with their momentum potentially broken.
Terry: Exactly. That’s the danger. The Dodgers are stacking their rotation. Skubal and Yamamoto back-to-back is a nightmare scenario for any lineup. Milwaukee needs to win Game 1 to keep this series alive. If they split the first two, then Games 3 and 4 become massive. But losing both early puts them in a hole.
Whitney: And we talked about this yesterday—the Dodgers still have the odds to win the World Series as favorites. But Milwaukee isn’t a pushover. They finished 103-59, first in the NL Central. They earned this seat at the table.
Terry: True. And their defense is elite. Garrett Mitchell in center field is a game-changer. If they can turn those extra outs into scoring opportunities, they can keep Skubal off the board longer than people expect.
Whitney: So, Gasser takes the mound against Skubal. High stakes, high pressure. Let’s move on to Segment Two: Key Hitters and Bullpen Questions.
Whitney: Terry, we have to talk about Jackson Chourio. ESPN just ran a piece on his young playoff career, calling it record-setting. He’s only 22 years old. What is it about his approach that makes him so dangerous against a team like the Dodgers?
Terry: Chourio has incredible hand-eye coordination. He doesn’t swing at pitches outside the zone. Against a pitcher like Skubal, who relies on command and movement, Chourio’s patience is key. He’s going to force Skubal to throw strikes, and when he does, he hits the ball hard.
Whitney: But there’s also the issue of injuries. The brief lists a ton of guys on IL. Adrian Morejon is day-to-day, Gavin Sheets is day-to-day, Miguel Andujar is on the 10-Day IL. How much does this thin the roster?
Terry: It’s significant. Lucas Giolito, Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, Angel Zerpa, Brian Fitzpatrick—all on the 60-Day IL. Grant Anderson and Jeremiah Estrada on the 15-Day IL. Milwaukee is running very thin in the rotation. They’re relying heavily on their starters from the regular season and maybe some call-ups.
Whitney: That’s a lot of arms missing. So who is left? We see Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Trevor Megill, Chad Patrick, JoJo Romero, Antonio Senzatela, Abner Uribe in the bullpen. That’s a mix of veterans and younger arms.
Terry: DL Hall and Aaron Ashby were mentioned in our previous episodes as critical relievers. If the bullpen gets stretched, Hall might have to work multiple innings. That’s risky. You don’t want to burn your best setup man too early.
Whitney: Right, and we predicted yesterday that managing the bullpen effectively would be key. If Chourio gets on base, and Brice Turang follows with speed, the Dodgers’ bullpen has to react fast. David Hamilton at third base adds another layer of threat with his baserunning.
Terry: Hamilton is a pest. If he’s on base, the Dodgers’ infielders have to be perfect. Any error, and Milwaukee scores. That’s the small-ball tactic. It’s not about hitting home runs; it’s about stringing together hits and walks.
Whitney: And Christian Yelich is still in the lineup as DH. He’s got experience in these big moments. Can he provide that extra pop against the Dodgers’ depth?
Terry: Yelich is unpredictable, but when he’s hot, he’s unstoppable. His platoon splits are interesting. He tends to perform better against right-handed pitching. If LA brings in a righty to face him, watch for a pull to the power alley.
Whitney: So, Chourio’s patience, Yelich’s power, and Hamilton’s speed. That’s the trifecta. But the injuries are looming large. Let’s head into Segment Three: Keys to the Series and a Bold Prediction.
Whitney: Alright, final segment. We’ve covered the pitching, the hitters, and the injuries. What is the single biggest key for the Brewers to take this series from the Dodgers?
Terry: Control the pace. The Dodgers want to hit home runs. Milwaukee wants to manufacture runs. If the Brewers can keep the game low-scoring and grind out long innings, they put pressure on LA’s bullpen later in the series. Don’t let the Dodgers turn it into a track meet.
Whitney: I agree. And speaking of keeping things fresh, if these daily breakdowns are part of your morning routine or commute, a small tip is exactly what keeps us coming back with this quality content every single day. Please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description. Your support helps keep the show free and daily for all of us.
Terry: Thank you for listening. Now, let’s make that bold prediction. I think the Brewers will split Games One and Two. Gasser holds Skubal to a tight game, and then Milwaukee takes Game 2 at home.
Whitney: I’ll add to that. I predict the Dodgers will eventually win the series in six games, but Milwaukee will make them sweat every single out. Jackson Chourio is going to be the story of this series.
Terry: Agreed. It’s going to be a great series.
Whitney: Thanks for tuning in to the Beatline Podcast Network. Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Brewers fan. Go Birds!