The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced Tarik Skubal, rather than Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as their starter for the first game of the postseason.
The choice is being attributed in part to the Atlanta Braves’ relatively low OPS against left-handed pitchers.
More important than the name of one starter is which matchup the Dodgers are targeting early in the series.
3-Line Summary
1. The Dodgers have announced Skubal for Game 1
2. The Braves’ OPS against left-handed pitchers is 0.696
3. The Game 1 choice targets the lineup matchup
NLDS Game 1 at Dodger Stadium on the 4th
The Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) have announced left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal as their starter for Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Atlanta Braves, to be held on the 4th, Korea time, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Skubal is a pitcher who has won the American League Cy Young Award in each of the past 2 years. The Dodgers acquired him in a trade in early August that sent 3 prospects to the Detroit Tigers. MoneyToday reported that, after joining the Dodgers, he recorded 5 wins and 2 losses with a 2.61 earned-run average in 10 games.
The key point in this announcement is that, as the Dodgers pursue a third consecutive World Series title, they are sending a newly acquired left-handed ace in the first game. Game 1 is an opportunity to seize momentum first in a short series, but since the game has not yet been played, the win-loss result and the order of subsequent starts are not confirmed outcomes.
Why the Dodgers Chose Skubal Instead of Yamamoto
This choice is difficult to interpret as meaning that Yoshinobu Yamamoto is being evaluated negatively. Yamamoto won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the 2025 World Series and recorded 14 wins and 9 losses with a 2.53 earned-run average this season. It more closely means that the Dodgers have starting-pitching resources strong enough that choosing either of the two would not be surprising.
Statistically, the difference in the Braves’ performance against right- and left-handed pitchers is being presented as the basis. The Braves recorded an OPS of 0.730 against right-handed pitchers during the regular season, while their OPS against left-handed pitchers was 0.696. The interpretation is that the Dodgers chose the left-handed Skubal after considering the record of a lower OPS, which combines on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
The Dodgers did not act with only one Game 1 in mind. It has also been reported that Skubal could make another start if the series goes to a fifth game. However, the way he is used may change depending on how the actual series unfolds.
The Braves Have Not Yet Determined Their Game 1 Starter
The Braves advanced to the NLDS after playing Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Chris Sale, a candidate to start Game 1, made a relief appearance in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series on the 2nd, throwing 1⅓ innings and 21 pitches.
According to a Yonhap News Agency report, the Braves are considering Sale as the Game 2 starter after checking his physical condition, while the possibility also remains that they could use an opener and have a bullpen day against the Dodgers in Game 1. Thus, while the Dodgers have announced their starter, how the Braves will respond remains an early-series variable.
References
Tags #BravesvsDodgers #Dodgers #AtlantaBraves #TarikSkubal #YoshinobuYamamoto #MLB #MajorLeagueBaseball #NLDS #NationalLeagueDivisionSeries #PostseasonBaseball #DodgerStadium #CyYoungAward