The Dodgers have set their NLCS pitching rotation to maximize rest for key starters and replicate last year's success against the Brewers. Manager Dave Roberts announced that Tarik Skubal will start Game 1 on Sunday, followed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto on five days' rest for Game 2. The team plans to use Blake Snell in Game 3, with Tyler Glasnow likely pitching Game 4 if necessary. Skubal might also pitch Game 5 on four days' rest. Last year's NLCS saw Dodgers starters dominate the Brewers lineup with strategic off-speed and breaking pitches.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Los Angeles Dodgers have strategically planned their pitching rotation for the upcoming NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, aiming to capitalize on their pitchers' strengths. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Tarik Skubal will start Game 1 on Sunday, facing off against Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, this year's presumptive Cy Young winner. Following Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch in Game 2 after a successful outing during the NLDS where he outdueled Chris Sale with a seven-inning performance that lowered his career postseason ERA to 2.14, the second lowest among pitchers with at least 10 playoff starts over the last century. The Dodgers are positioning Yamamoto for another start in Game 6 if necessary, ensuring optimal rest between appearances.
Written for “Dodgers Rotation Strategy” on 2026-10-10,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
When the Dodgers set their starting rotation for the National League Division Series, they did so with the NL Championship Series in mind.
asserted
they → set → mind
And now that they’ve reached the NLCS, after eliminating the Braves in a four-game NLDS this past week, they have their pitching plans exactly where they want them.
asserted
they → reach → them
For a second straight series, Tarik Skubal will once again be the team’s Game 1 starter against the Brewers on Sunday, manager Dave Roberts announced during a Friday video conference with reporters, setting up the reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner to square off with this year’s presumptive Cy Young winner in Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski.
asserted
winner → announce → Misiorowski
After that, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be bumped up for Game 2, representing a shift from the NLDS when Yamamoto didn’t start until Game 3.
asserted
Yamamoto → bump → Game
The Dodgers had pushed back Yamamoto’s start in the NLDS to keep him on his normal once-per-week pitching schedule, sliding Blake Snell in as their Game 2 starter instead.
asserted
Dodgers → push → starter
The move briefly seemed questionable, after Snell managed only 3 ⅔ innings in a five-walk, one-run start in the team’s Game 2 loss.
asserted
Snell → seem → loss
However, Yamamoto calmed the waters by outdueling Chris Sale in Game 3, producing a seven-inning, one-run gem that lowered his career postseason ERA to 2.14 (second lowest in the last 100 years among pitchers with at least 10 playoff starts, behind only Madison Bumgarner).
Now, just as the team envisioned, Yamamoto will be able to start twice in the NLCS — set to go on five days of rest for Monday’s Game 2, then on five days of rest again for a potential Game 6.
asserted
Yamamoto → calm → Game
Snell, meanwhile, seems likely to pitch in Game 3.
asserted
Snell → seem → Game
Skubal could go on four days of rest for Game 5.
uncertain
Skubal → go → Game
The Dodgers’ rotation figures to represent their biggest matchup advantage over the Brewers.
asserted
rotation → figure → Brewers
In last year’s NLCS sweep, a quartet of Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani combined to give up just two runs in 28 ⅔ innings while combining for 35 strikeouts against Milwaukee’s overmatched lineup.
asserted
quartet → combine → lineup
The Dodgers’ rotation peppered the Brewers’ contact-happy lineup with a heavy dose of off-speed and breaking pitches.
asserted
rotation → pepper → speed
Snell spammed them with a flurry of changeups in a scoreless eight-inning masterpiece.
asserted
Snell → spamme → masterpiece
Yamamoto leaned on his splitter and curveball in the first of his two complete-game performances last October.
asserted
Yamamoto → lean → performances
Glasnow abandoned his trademark four-seam/curveball combination for a mix of more sinkers and sliders in a 5 ⅔-inning start.
asserted
Glasnow → abandon → start
Ohtani threw the kitchen sink at them with a seven-pitch arsenal in his iconic 10-strikeout, three-homer outburst in Game 4.
asserted
Ohtani → throw → Game
In those games, only Yamamoto didn’t significantly decrease his fastball usage compared to his regular-season average.
asserted
Yamamoto → decrease → average
The plan worked, getting the Brewers to uncharacteristically chase more often and whiff on one-third of all their swings in the series.
asserted
Brewers → work → series
Now, the Dodgers will hope to replicate that success again this year, inserting the newly acquired Skubal in for the injury-hampered Ohtani in a starting rotation they hope can carry them to a third straight NL pennant.
asserted
they → hope → pennant
The Aporia
