Tarik Skubal entered his first postseason start with the Los Angeles Dodgers facing significant expectations. Acquired at the Trade Deadline to strengthen a championship-caliber rotation, the left-hander was given the ball for Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.

He responded with one of his strongest performances since joining Los Angeles.

Skubal worked six innings and limited Atlanta to one run on two hits while striking out seven. The Dodgers eventually won 5-3, giving them an early advantage in the best-of-five series.

Rather than treating the postseason stage differently, Skubal focused on the same approach that has guided him throughout his career: executing one pitch at a time.

He acknowledged that maintaining that mindset becomes increasingly difficult as the stakes rise. The temptation is to think about avoiding a mistake rather than focusing on executing the pitch itself. For Skubal, eliminating those distractions and trusting his preparation remains the key.

The conditions at Dodger Stadium presented another challenge.

The game began with temperatures around 100 degrees, making it one of the hottest postseason games in the stadium’s history.

Skubal, however, said he did not fully realize how hot it was until returning to the dugout after his outing. He credited the demands of pitching with helping him block out the conditions.

His solution was straightforward: pitch efficiently and get quick outs.

After allowing a leadoff hit in the first inning, Skubal settled into a dominant stretch and retired 15 consecutive Braves hitters. The right mix of execution and efficiency helped him preserve his stamina despite the extreme weather.

Skubal faced his biggest challenge in the sixth inning.

After Sean Murphy's home run cut the Dodgers' lead, Skubal issued a walk and later put himself in another difficult situation with Atlanta threatening to change the game. Instead of allowing the inning to spiral, he concentrated on the game situation and worked his way through it.

Skubal understood that Atlanta did not necessarily need multiple hits to take control. A single mistake could have shifted the momentum, so he prioritized keeping the damage limited.

He ultimately escaped the inning with the Dodgers still ahead.

That allowed the offense to respond immediately, as Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy homered in the bottom of the sixth to give Los Angeles additional breathing room. Teoscar Hernández had already supplied a two-run homer earlier in the game.

Skubal also credited the players around him for helping him navigate his first postseason start as a Dodger.

He praised catcher Will Smith for guiding him through the early innings, particularly when Skubal was missing with some of his pitches. He also highlighted Tommy Edman for making important defensive plays and keeping Atlanta from extending rallies.

The Dodgers' offense provided another boost, particularly Tucker, who delivered a major swing after a difficult regular season.

Skubal believes preparation eventually shows itself in high-pressure moments, making him confident in Tucker's ability to deliver when the opportunity arises.

With Game 1 complete, Skubal can now watch the rest of the Dodgers' rotation take its turn.

He expressed excitement about Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching in the next two games, emphasizing the confidence he has in the team's starting pitching.

For Skubal, the biggest takeaway from his first Dodgers postseason start was not changing his approach because of the moment. The stage was bigger, the conditions were extreme and the expectations were higher, but his process remained the same.