The Dodgers have elected to start Deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal in Saturday's Game 1 of the National League Division Series against Atlanta, a source told MLB.com on Friday. Skubal got the nod over 2025 World Series Most Valuable Player Yoshinobu Yamamoto, though the team has not yet officially announced its plans.
Skubal, the two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner, went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts for Los Angeles after coming over from the Tigers.
Skubal, a southpaw, has held left-handed batters to just a .576 OPS during his Major League career, while righties have a .635 mark. The heart of Atlanta's offense has a trio of left-handed hitters in Michael Harris II, Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin.