The Dodgers spent over $400 million on their star-studded rotation, but when they lost seven straight games at the beginning of August, they became an easy target for critics who believe their biggest advantage is simply stacking the biggest names. But if anyone can put that narrative to rest, it’s Tarik Skubal.
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With Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow headlining the rotation, the Dodgers have assembled a group that is rightfully competing for a three-peat this season while sitting atop the NL West. Yet rather than pointing to the names, Skubal’s perspective highlighted the key qualities that make this rotation so difficult to beat.
“Snell is nasty, one of the game’s best lefties. Awesome to watch him go through game-planning. Yoshi’s process is nuts; the preparation is second to none. Glas is coming back soon. I’ve always been a fan of his; just what he’s able to do with the baseball out of his right hand is unbelievable. Sho threw a live today… when he’s on the mound, I love our chances,” Dodgers Nation quoted Skubal on X.
Skubal has kept a relatively low profile since joining the Dodgers. The reigning 2025 Cy Young Award winner has had several elite pitchers around him, giving him plenty of opportunities to identify his shortcomings and make adjustments. And as a fellow left-hander, who better to learn from than one of MLB’s best southpaws, Blake Snell?
Snell’s 2026 campaign with the Dodgers has truly been a rollercoaster. This season has been defined by severe injury setbacks, followed by an absolutely dominant late-summer surge. After helping LA win the World Series late last year, his fatigue and a major elbow procedure sidelined him for most of the first half of 2026. On May 28, the Dodgers transferred him to the 60-day injured list, forcing him to miss nearly three months of action due to loose-body surgery.
However, he scripted a bigger comeback on his return. In his first three starts since his return, Snell completely transformed the Dodgers’ rotation by giving up 2 ERs in 18 innings. This includes 6 scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hence, Snell could be the best example for Skubal in turning his momentum. Recently, Skubal and Snell were seen in discussion in the dugout, sparking a much-needed buildup.
The Dodgers’ star-studded rotation means competition is high, and each one needs to put their best to get into the rotation. Roki Sasaki was the best example of how even a highly touted name can struggle to secure a spot in the rotation. Yamamoto is different. Facing a severe stomach illness this month, Yamamoto chose to rest in Los Angeles instead of traveling with the team for the initial Chicago portion of their road trip. Surprisingly, he got back into the lineup in his best shape and recorded 5.2 scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks.
“It’s from the day we signed him, how intentional he is about his work and his body care,” Dave Roberts said about Yamamoto back in February.
Skubal is also ready to take input from a right-hander, especially if that pitcher is Tyler Glasnow. The 33-year-old is set to return from the IL due to back issues on Tuesday, adding another elite arm to the Dodgers’ rotation. He also became the fastest starting pitcher in MLB history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts, doing so in just 793 innings. And then there’s Shohei Ohtani, who is scheduled to return to the mound soon. With Ohtani back on the mound, the Dodgers’ chances only get stronger.
“Every single night we have a chance to win with the starter,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager said about having a star-studded rotation.
The Dodgers would have surely expected better numbers from Tarik Skubal. However, with four aces around him, Skubal getting back to his best may be just one game away. Saturday offered a glimpse of his best. Apart from allowing three hits in the first inning, Skubal was unplayable from the second onward. He totaled 11 strikeouts, retiring 18 of his final 19 Pirates batters.
“That’s something that I need to make a change for. Instead of trying to command the ball early, maybe just go out there and compete with what I got and then the adjustments will happen naturally,” Skubal said on Saturday. “Early in games, my stuff should be crisper than it is. I think it’s just about competing early in games instead of trying to find a feel for things. Just go out there and compete.”
His next start will reveal whether Tarik Skubal has successfully identified his shortcomings and whether the Dodgers’ other starters have helped him address them.