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There's no doubt that the Los Angeles Dodgers got richer on Saturday night after acquiring Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. It sets up a pretty wicked starting rotation for the Dodgers as they seek a third consecutive World Series championship.
Of course, they'll have to worry about the 2027 MLB season and wonder if there will be a lockout. Right now, though, the Dodgers obviously are going all in to win it all yet again.
Skubal, who put up incredible numbers as the ace of the Tigers' pitching staff, is going to be inserted into a Dodgers' rotation with the likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleski, and Shohei Ohtani. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are returning from the Injured List, too, so throw their names into the mix as well.
In exchange for Skubal, Los Angeles sent outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. Hope had been pulled earlier before the Double-A Tulsa Drillers' game on Saturday night, too.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network appeared on MLB Network's "Quick Pitch" with Abby Labar late Saturday night. Heyman said that he believed the Dodgers are "98% done" as far as anymore trades are concerned. Of course, the MLB Trade Deadline is coming up on Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. ET.
If you want to get a good picture of just how dominant Skubal has been in the major leagues this season, then look no further than his statistics according to Baseball Savant. In looking at his 2026 MLB Percentile Rankings, Skubal hits the "Great" level in pitching run value, fastball run value, breaking run value, and offspeed run value in the Value category.
As for pitching rankings, Skubal also ranks as "Great" in xERA, xBA, fastball velo, average exit velo, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage.
Hitting on all cylinders there just put Skubal in a category all of his own in the major-league pitching world.
He uses his fastball 37% of the time, followed by his changeup at 25%, and his sinker at 20%. Skubal slides in his slider 14% of the time and rarely uses a curveball.
There will be questions surrounding Skubal's future in regard to a contract. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman will get with Skubal's representatives at some point to discuss the matter.
A number of people around the sports world have scoffed at this deal for Skubal and Los Angeles. Many of them are using this as a reason for MLB to have a salary cap, a contentious issue between owners and players.
Dodgers fans are not going to worry about a lockout right now. Their focus is on watching Skubal pitch and help Los Angeles go all the way in the 2026 MLB postseason.
Continue reading...
Of course, they'll have to worry about the 2027 MLB season and wonder if there will be a lockout. Right now, though, the Dodgers obviously are going all in to win it all yet again.
Skubal, who put up incredible numbers as the ace of the Tigers' pitching staff, is going to be inserted into a Dodgers' rotation with the likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleski, and Shohei Ohtani. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are returning from the Injured List, too, so throw their names into the mix as well.
In exchange for Skubal, Los Angeles sent outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. Hope had been pulled earlier before the Double-A Tulsa Drillers' game on Saturday night, too.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network appeared on MLB Network's "Quick Pitch" with Abby Labar late Saturday night. Heyman said that he believed the Dodgers are "98% done" as far as anymore trades are concerned. Of course, the MLB Trade Deadline is coming up on Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. ET.
If you want to get a good picture of just how dominant Skubal has been in the major leagues this season, then look no further than his statistics according to Baseball Savant. In looking at his 2026 MLB Percentile Rankings, Skubal hits the "Great" level in pitching run value, fastball run value, breaking run value, and offspeed run value in the Value category.
As for pitching rankings, Skubal also ranks as "Great" in xERA, xBA, fastball velo, average exit velo, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage.
Hitting on all cylinders there just put Skubal in a category all of his own in the major-league pitching world.
He uses his fastball 37% of the time, followed by his changeup at 25%, and his sinker at 20%. Skubal slides in his slider 14% of the time and rarely uses a curveball.
There will be questions surrounding Skubal's future in regard to a contract. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman will get with Skubal's representatives at some point to discuss the matter.
A number of people around the sports world have scoffed at this deal for Skubal and Los Angeles. Many of them are using this as a reason for MLB to have a salary cap, a contentious issue between owners and players.
Dodgers fans are not going to worry about a lockout right now. Their focus is on watching Skubal pitch and help Los Angeles go all the way in the 2026 MLB postseason.
Continue reading...
