Tarik Skubal will toe the slab for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will look towards southpaw Tarik Skubal, the biggest Trade Deadline acquisition this year, to kick off their trek towards a third consecutive World Series title.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers will have Skubal toe the rubber in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves this Saturday.
Skubal made 10 starts for his new ballclub dating back to August. 3, making his debut against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 3. In that stretch, the two-time Cy Young Award winner posted a 2.61 ERA across 62 innings.
When it comes to playoff play, Skubal has shown he's up to the task. In six career Postseason starts, Skubal is 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA in 39.2 innings pitched.
His last Postseason start came on Oct. 10 of last year when the Detroit Tigers faced the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the American League Division Series. Skubal went six innings and allowed just one earned run on two hits while striking out 13 in the loss.
The decision to run Skubal for the series opener could be linked to how the Braves have hit left-handed pitching in 2026, posting a .240 batting average against southpaws, compared to a .250 average against right-handers.
Luckily for the Dodgers, their biggest upside heading into this year's postseason is their robust starting rotation.
Aug 22, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches in the first inning at Dodger Stadium. -- IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectLos Angeles could have turned to their right-handed ace in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who made all 28 of his starts in 2026, posting a 2.53 ERA in 185 innings, or turn around and weigh their options between Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
The decision to have Skubal pitch in Game 1 over Yamamoto could also be because Yamamoto was a part of the Dodgers' intrasquad game on Wednesday and was the subject of a heavy workload.
If you follow the Dodgers' approach to Yamamoto's regular start days, he would be scheduled to pitch in Game 3 at Truist Park. With his road and home splits vastly different— 1.77 ERA on the road compared to 3.13 ERA at home —that could push Blake Snell to start Game 2.
A plethora of possibilities were at play, but ultimately, it's the newcomer who will be tasked with creating the momentum for a deep Postseason run.
Looking on the other side, Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters that Chris Sale, who pitched in the later innings of Thursday's Wild Card clinch against the Philadelphia Phillies, is considered an option to start for Game 2, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
