As they have done repeatedly in this postseason, the Milwaukee Brewers are turning to their bullpen to kick things off in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Oct. 13 at American Family Field.
Aaron Ashby, who started Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, will once again be called upon as an “opener,” perhaps in front of starter Quinn Priester, who would pitch on regular rest if he appeared in the game. The left-handed Ashby has been heavily involved in the postseason thus far, appearing in four of five games.
The Dodgers, of course, have some high-profile left-handed bats, notably Shohei Ohtani leading off and Freddie Freeman near the top of the order. Third baseman Max Muncy also bats from the left side, and infielder Tommy Edman is a switch hitter.
Ashby allowed three earned runs in Game 2 on a three-run homer by Seiya Suzuki, though the Brewers answered for three runs in the bottom half, prompting Ashby to return to the mound for the second inning. In 4⅔ innings, he’s allowed five hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
Ashby gets the ball to start Game 1 #MagicBrewpic.twitter.com/e7xv1D2QT0
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 13, 2025
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are sending two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to the mound. The left-hander allowed one hit in six innings in a 4-3 NLDS win over Philadelphia on Oct. 10 and allowed two earned runs on four hits in seven innings against Cincinnati in the wild-card round.
Snell was limited to just 11 starts this year (none against the Brewers) but posted a 2.35 ERA and struck out 72 batters in 61⅓ innings. He won a Cy Young award in 2023 with San Diego and in 2018 in the American League with Tampa Bay.
Game 1 begins at 7:08 p.m. CT at American Family Field.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aaron Ashby to start for Brewers in Game 1 of NLCS against Dodgers
