The Los Angeles Dodgers made an aggressive trade deadline move for Tarik Skubal. Although they fell short of completing a three-peat, the left-hander played an instrumental role in the success they achieved.

Skubal contributed on the mound and quickly became popular in the locker room. His willingness to interact normally with teammates, including on days he started, helped him connect with the group.

That approach developed over time. Earlier in his career, Skubal copied veteran behavior he observed with the Detroit Tigers, typically wearing headphones and keeping to himself before starts.

According to Dodger Blue, Skubal eventually found that routine exhausting and inauthentic. Attempting to appear focused left him mentally tired by the second or third inning, sometimes making him wonder why he already felt drained.

After suffering an injury in 2022, Skubal decided he was devoting too much attention to details that did not affect games. He had worried about the music setting, whether the correct songs played at specific times and other potentially superstitious elements.

Removing his headphones and interacting with teammates became mentally freeing. Skubal still concentrates as game time approaches, but he found no advantage in attempting to remain completely focused four hours before taking the mound.

He prefers acting naturally before gradually entering a competitive mindset.

“I just found it to be exhausting. I don’t think that’s who I am. It’s kind of putting on a facade,” Skubal explained.

“You’re just not yourself. I didn’t feel like myself when I was doing that, putting headphones in and trying to be focused. I found myself mentally exhausted in the second or third innings of games.

“And I’m like, ‘Why am I tired today? I should be ready to go.’ When I got hurt in ‘22, I decided enough is enough. I’m caring way too much about all the little things that don’t really matter, don’t really impact the game of baseball.”

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy noticed a significant contrast between Skubal and Clayton Kershaw when they prepared for starts.

During a press conference, the third baseman explained that Skubal maintained his normal demeanor on pitching days, unlike the distinctive routines Kershaw followed during their years together.

Muncy was particularly surprised before Skubal’s first start for Los Angeles. The pitcher casually approached him and discussed something unrelated to baseball.

Muncy had never encountered a starter who behaved so normally before pitching and described Skubal’s approach as completely opposite to Kershaw’s.

He nevertheless acknowledged that starting pitchers have individual routines for legitimate reasons. Position players may occasionally laugh about their extensive preparation, but they respect it because starting pitching is essential to winning.

“I’ve never seen somebody be so normal on a start day,” Muncy said.

“Playing with Kersh for all those years, it’s a complete opposite.”

Skubal backed his reputation with his performance after arriving from Detroit. He went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 62 innings over 10 regular season starts for Los Angeles.

He went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 11 innings over two postseason starts.

Skubal allowed two runs on five hits (one home run) with seven strikeouts and two walks in five innings to take the loss in a 2-1 setback against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Oct. 11.

The left-hander also won the American League Cy Young Award in 2024 and 2025.

Skubal is now a free agent and many teams want to sign him. However, only a few may have the financial capacity to pursue him seriously. Bob Nightengale from USA TODAY explained that the field could consist of only the Dodgers and New York Mets.

Nightengale reported in August that although Skubal publicly discussed potentially returning to Detroit, Los Angeles and New York were expected to be the only teams prepared to submit serious offers.

Skubal’s relaxed preparation does not diminish his competitiveness. It allows him to conserve mental energy until he needs it most. He separates preparation from performance instead of treating the entire day like the game has already begun.

That self-awareness helped him abandon an approach that worked for other pitchers but not for him. His openness also strengthened his relationships with teammates without compromising his concentration.

Skubal found a routine that supports both his personality and his responsibility as an elite starting pitcher.