LOS ANGELES -- When manager Dave Roberts was asked earlier in the week how he’d stack his postseason rotation, he noted that the Dodgers couldn't really go wrong.
"To be honest,” he said, “we could really put all four guys in a hat and run them out there."
On Friday, Los Angeles made its choice official -- and handed the ball to Tarik Skubal.
The selection of the left-hander over Yoshinobu Yamamoto gives the Dodgers a tailored matchup edge against an Atlanta lineup that struggled against southpaws. While saving Yamamoto for later on removes the option to pitch him twice on regular rest in a five-game series, Roberts pointed to the bigger picture of rotation rest and potential workload down the line.
"I think it was one of those things where, if you're looking at Tarik's ability to go on regular rest this series potentially, looking out -- I think that's probably kind of the start of it," Roberts said on Friday. "So for us, I've always said with the four guys it doesn't really matter who, but I think we feel good about Tarik taking the baseball."
Skubal noted that the news was delivered on Sept. 25 as he walked off the mound following seven scoreless innings in San Francisco.
For Roberts, delivering the news provided a lighthearted moment amidst October preparation.
"I loved delivering that message," Roberts said. "I don't always get to deliver good messages, and that was a good one, a fun one. And he was great, because obviously with this ballclub it's an easy kind of thought that Yoshi would be the Game 1 starter … but we have thoughts on why we do things, and all these guys are all in for whatever we decide."
While Skubal was initially caught off guard by the timing -- assuming he was pulled after 75 pitches simply to save his arm -- the assignment validated the rapid trust he has built within the organization since arriving at the Trade Deadline.
"It's an honor and a privilege to start Game 1 and have the trust in the coaching staff and my teammates and the organization to take the ball and go out there and do what I can do to put our team in a position to win," Skubal said. "I'm excited for it."
Rewarding that trust on Saturday doubles as a personal milestone: his first career home postseason start.
Despite making six playoff starts over the past two seasons with the Tigers, every single one came on the road. In four of those outings, he surrendered one run or fewer, compiling a 2.04 ERA and 56 strikeouts across 39 2/3 postseason innings.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to throw in front of the fans," Skubal said. "Usually when I walk out onto the field in a playoff game, it's received with a lot of boos. So I'm excited to get some cheers in there for us. And to pitch at home, I think it's going to be a ton of fun in front of this atmosphere."
His transition to Chavez Ravine over the past two months has been remarkably smooth. Across 10 regular-season starts in Dodger Blue, Skubal delivered a 2.61 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 62 innings. When asked what has clicked to get his results right where he wants them after changing teams midseason, Skubal credited growing familiarity with his new surroundings.
"Just sticking to my process, staying true to who I am, and obviously getting on the same page with catchers and everybody," Skubal said. "... That stuff just takes time, especially when you make a big transition in the middle of the season. It's been good to work through all that stuff, and I feel confident with where I'm at."
For Skubal, meeting those high expectations on October's stage isn't about reinventing himself; it's about trusting the foundation that brought him here.
"The game of baseball doesn't change," Skubal said. "It doesn't change in terms of how I'm going to approach it. Obviously, the stage is a little bit different and the environments are a little bit different, but how I go out and execute how I prepare and how I game plan is going to be the exact same. That's what I trust at any moment. As games get more meaningful and impactful, I just revert back to what got me in that position."
Beyond the postseason pressure, both teams will contend with an unseasonable Southern California heatwave for Saturday afternoon's 1 p.m. PT first pitch, with temperatures forecasted in the triple digits.
As for Skubal’s game plan for managing the sweltering conditions? Very simple.
"Drink a lot of water," he deadpanned.