The Los Angeles Dodgers already knew Tarik Skubal could change their rotation. Now, a Dodgers legend has explained why the move could matter even more in October.
MORE: Dodgers star Miguel Rojas aces U.S. citizenship test during NLDS
Skubal was brought in from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline for a package that included top prospects Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith. The Dodgers did not make that investment simply to strengthen their regular-season rotation. They wanted another ace for the moments when every game carries significantly more weight.
That value was on full display in the National League Division Series.
Tarik Skubal is built for the postseason stage
Skubal started Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves and delivered exactly what Los Angeles hoped to get when it made the trade.
The left-hander allowed one run and two hits over six innings while striking out seven. He also retired 15 consecutive hitters at one point, helping the Dodgers take a 5-3 victory and an early series lead.
The Dodgers eventually finished off Atlanta in four games, advancing to the NL Championship Series.
That is where the importance of the Skubal trade becomes clearer.
Los Angeles already had talented arms, but postseason baseball can expose even the deepest rotation. A starter who can take the ball in Game 1 and immediately settle a series gives a team something that regular-season depth cannot fully measure.
Sep 19, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) reacts after giving up a walk to the San Francisco Giants in the during the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Skubal’s first season with Los Angeles has backed up that idea. He went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 10 regular-season starts for the Dodgers.
Now the stakes are even higher.
The Dodgers will face Milwaukee after the Brewers finished the regular season with an MLB-best 103-59 record. The series is a rematch of last year’s NLCS, and Skubal is in line to face Misiorowski in Sunday’s opener if both teams follow their expected rotation plans.
That is precisely why Los Angeles surrendered so much prospect capital for Skubal.
The Dodgers did not need another good regular-season pitcher. They needed someone capable of taking the ball when the margin for error disappears.
After his Game 1 performance against Atlanta, Skubal has already shown that the trade can pay off where it matters most. Now he gets another chance to prove it with a trip to the World Series on the line.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —