LCS Game Thread October 12: LAD vs. MIL; CLE vs. TB

It’s the first full day of League Championship play as the remaining four teams vie for the Commissioner’s Trophy. The Brewers got their revenge on the Dodgers, taking Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday night, and will return for Game 2 in Milwaukee, while the Guardians and Rays get Game 1 underway in Tampa Bay.

Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Monday, October 12, 2026 • 5:00 PM ET
American Family Field • Milwaukee, WI
RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Henderson (0-0, 1.80 ERA)
FOX/FS1

Yoshinobu Yamamoto might as well be called a postseason darling. The reigning World Series MVP, he is a playoff dog. In his start against the Braves in the NLDS, Yamamoto went seven innings, striking out ten while allowing one run on four hits. The question remains, though: how many times, and in what capacity, will the Dodgers use him this postseason?

On the flip side, the Brewers turn to young stud Logan Henderson. Fresh off the heels of a rookie campaign that saw the right-hander produce a 2.47 across 18 starts (110 strikeouts in 98.1 innings), Henderson delivered for the Brew Crew in his start against the Padres. He went five innings in the NLDS, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out four.

Dodgers Lineup

Mookie Betts, SS
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Teoscar Hernández, LF
Shohei Ohtani, DH
Will Smith, C
Max Muncy, 3B
Andy Pages, CF
Kyle Tucker, RF
Tommy Edman, 2B

Brewers Lineup

Jackson Chourio, LF
Brice Turang, 2B
William Contreras, C
Jake Bauers, 1B
Christian Yelich, DH
Garrett Mitchell, CF
Cooper Pratt, SS
Sal Frelick, RF
David Hamilton, 3B

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Monday, October 12, 2026 • 8:00 PM ET
Tropicana Field • St. Petersburg, FL
LHP Foster Griffin (1-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
TBS/HBO Max

After a thrilling five-game series with the White Sox, the Guardians prevailed, winning the final three to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2024. They’re looking to win their first AL pennant since 2016. Meanwhile, the Rays swept the Yankees in the ALDS to mark their first return to the ALCS since 2020, when they last won the AL pennant.

The Rays will send their ace Drew Rasmussen to the mound, who’s delivered eight innings of one-hit ball this postseason. He nearly no-hit the Yankees, leaving them clueless, while striking out 10. Foster Griffin, Cleveland’s deadline acquisition, has only pitched in 2.2 innings this October; however, he’s struck out seven batters in that span while allowing one run. That appearance came in the critical Game 3 of the ALDS, where the Guardians needed a win to survive.