# Skubal-Misiorowski NLCS Matchup Rare

> NLCS Game 1 features two top pitchers in a matchup that's nearly unprecedented in baseball history.
- Title: Skubal-Misiorowski NLCS Matchup Rare · Mlb | Shortify
- Summary: NLCS Game 1 features two top pitchers in a matchup that's nearly unprecedented in baseball history. Skubal and Misiorowski's NLCS Game 1 matchup is the…
- Keywords: skubal, misiorowski, nlcs, mlb, postseason, pitching, game 1, starting pitchers, cy young, baseball, sports, Skubal-Misiorowski
- Source: Mlb — https://mlb.com/news/misiorowski-skubal-game-1-nlcs-matchup
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: skubal, misiorowski, nlcs, mlb, postseason, pitching, game 1, starting pitchers, cy young, baseball, sports
## NLCS Game 1 Pitchers
Game 1 of the National League Championship Series features Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski and Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal.
## Misiorowski's Stats
Misiorowski rolls in with a 1.80 era, one of the exceptionally few times in the last 50 years that a qualified starter has had an era under 2.00.
## Skubal's Background
Skubal is the back-to-back reigning al cy young winner, only not in contention for a third straight because he was traded from the al to the nl at the deadline.
## Skubal's Recent Performance
Skubal leads the majors in pitching war over the last three seasons and led the nl in pitching war after the trade.
## Skubal's Recovery
Skubal returned from elbow surgery so quickly that the entire procedure, the 'skubal scope', now honorarily carries his name.
## Misiorowski's Context
Misiorowski leads a milwaukee team desperate for revenge after getting swept out of the playoffs by the dodgers in last year's nlcs.
## Skubal's Goal
Skubal is a pending free agent trying to lead the dodgers to a rare world series title three-peat.
## Brewers' Risk
The brewers risked this exact situation by not being the highest bidder at the deadline.
## Potential Game 5
They might get this matchup twice given they'd both be lined up for a potential game 5 at dodger stadium.
## Historical Context
There have been nearly 1,500 postseason starts since 1971 with exactly 13 featuring two top-four starters against one another.
## Last Week's Matchup
The last week's matchup was in the nl division series when sale faced yamamoto in an excellent pitcher's duel.
## Historical Matchups
The best matchup was in 1986 nlcs between gooden and scott, the only time we've had a no. 1 vs. no. 2 matchup.
## Skubal-Misiorowski Matchup
This matchup is the third-best of nearly 1500 total games with skubal ranked no. 1 and misiorowski no. 4.
## Rare Matchup
This matchup is nearly unprecedented in baseball history with only 13 of nearly 1500 postseason games featuring two top-four starters.
## Key takeaway

Skubal and Misiorowski's NLCS Game 1 matchup is the third-best postseason pitching pairing in 55 years, with only 13 of nearly 1,500 games featuring two top-four starters.