Skubal brings 101 mph heat in 100-degree weather as Dodgers take NLDS opener over Braves

LOS ANGELES — Tarik Skubal didn't waste any time throwing high heat against the Atlanta Braves. He zipped a 101 mph fastball to Austin Riley in the second before striking him out to finish off a 1-2-3 inning.

"I think I was just trying to match the temperature," Skubal said, smiling. "It was a hot one."

Sweating through triple-digit temperatures, Skubal tossed six dominant innings in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 5-3 victory in Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday.

"Looked like he was in top form," Braves manager Walt Weiss said. "We knew it was going to be a rough ride, but yeah, he did a hell of a job."

It was the kind of performance the Dodgers sought when they acquired Skubal from the Detroit Tigers just ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline in exchange for three prospects. He is earning a record $32 million this season, won in salary arbitration while still with Detroit. He can become a free agent after the World Series.

"Tarik was fantastic," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Skubal gave up a single to Drake Baldwin leading off the game and then retired 15 consecutive batters, including striking out the side in the third.

"That always helps you maintain a little bit of stamina," he said.

The 29-year-old left-hander started a postseason game at home for the first time in his career. His first six career playoff starts with the Tigers in 2024 and '25 all came on the road.

The game-time temperature was 100 degrees (38 Celsius), making it the second-hottest postseason game in Dodger Stadium history and just off the record of 103 set in Game 1 of the 2017 World Series. The average Los Angeles temperature in early October is 81 degrees (27 Celsius).

"This is nothing, huh?" asked Skubal, who grew up in Kingman, Arizona, and said he once played a Little League game when it was 127 degrees.

"I always say the best way to combat weather, if it's cold or hot, is to have quick innings and get your guys back on the field hitting and getting off the mound," he said.

Skubal was chosen as the Game 1 starter over 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is expected to start in Game 3 in Atlanta. The Braves went with four relievers in a bullpen game.

"I try to treat every start kind of the same, whether it's a postseason start or a regular season start," Skubal said. "I'm trying to win every single game that I'm out there pitching."

Roberts had informed Skubal last Sunday after his final regular-season start in San Francisco that he would get the ball for the NLDS opener.

"I don't always get to deliver good messages, and that was a good one, a fun one," Roberts said. "With this ballclub it's an easy kind of thought that Yoshi would be the Game 1 starter, absolutely. So Tarik was very respectful of Yoshinobu, but we have thoughts on why we do things, and all these guys are all in for whatever we decide."

In Detroit, Skubal had a career postseason record of 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA and 56 strikeouts.

He was warmly welcomed by Dodgers fans in his home debut on Aug. 10.

"My first start here was really special to me," Skubal said. "The ovation I got, I didn't even feel that well, and kind of just to get that reaction and get that kind of interaction with the fans, they've embraced me. I really appreciate that."

He has spent the last couple of months learning the catchers and getting to know his new teammates while going 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 10 appearances for the Dodgers during the regular season.

"Just getting more comfortable kind of in my own skin," Skubal said. "I think that matters and that stuff just takes time, especially when you make a big transition in the middle of the season. I feel confident with where I'm at."

Skubal and fellow lefty Blake Snell, who will start Game 2 on Sunday, gravitated toward each other, in part because of a shared sense of humor.

"I think the level of respect we have for each other, both being left-handed starters, both accomplishing a lot in the game so far, I think that's kind of pushed us to the curiosity of, how did you get so good? What did you do?" Snell said. "He's extremely confident in what he's doing, and it's almost like a carefree, fearless type of mentality."

Landing Skubal had the rest of baseball grumbling that the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers were ruining the sport with their huge payroll and abundance of talent, led by two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.

"From top to bottom, they're very much aligned with trying to win championships," Skubal said. "Everybody's got one goal at hand. I fit right in with that. Everything that I try to do is try to win as many baseball games as I can. I'm excited to start doing that in October."

___

See AP's full MLB coverage here

Related topics