The Los Angeles Dodgers made a major move when they brought left-hander Tarik Skubal over from the Detroit Tigers, but the early returns have not quite matched what fans were accustomed to seeing from the star pitcher.
Skubal hasn’t been disastrous through his first two starts in a Dodgers uniform. At the same time, he hasn’t looked like his usual dominant self, either. Through 11 innings with Los Angeles, he owns a 0-1 record and a 4.09 ERA with 12 strikeouts and four walks.
Two starts represent a tiny sample, particularly for a pitcher adjusting to a new organization in the middle of a season. Still, one number stands out immediately: the walks.
Skubal’s Dodgers Command Has Taken an Early Hit
Before the trade, Skubal had recorded a career BB/9 rate of 2.9 across 150 starts with Detroit. His control had been considerably sharper this season, with his BB/9 sitting at just 1.3 during his time with the Tigers.
Through his first two Dodgers starts, that number has jumped to 3.3.
That’s a noticeable change for a pitcher who had been doing an excellent job of limiting free passes. The command problems have also come alongside a relatively modest strikeout total, with Skubal recording 12 strikeouts in his first 11 innings for Los Angeles.
Put it all together, and his early Dodgers line reads 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA and a 12-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Again, that’s hardly a catastrophe. But expectations surrounding Skubal aren’t based on merely surviving starts. Los Angeles acquired a pitcher capable of controlling games, missing bats and limiting unnecessary traffic on the bases.
The Brewers Present a Difficult Matchup
His next expected assignment could provide an immediate test of whether those command issues are beginning to settle down.
Skubal will likely pitch during the Dodgers’ upcoming weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers, and Milwaukee presents exactly the kind of lineup that can make a pitcher pay for struggling to locate.
The Brewers rank second in MLB with 4.13 walks per game, behind only the Chicago Cubs. That makes the matchup particularly interesting given what has happened during Skubal’s first two appearances with Los Angeles.
Milwaukee doesn’t need to chase pitches outside the strike zone if Skubal can’t consistently put the ball where he wants it. If he falls behind hitters or starts missing around the edges, the Brewers have shown an ability to accept the free passes and force pitchers to work.
Skubal Has an Immediate Chance to Respond
That could put additional pressure on Skubal to establish the strike zone early rather than allowing another outing to become a battle with his command.
There is plenty of time for Skubal to settle into his new surroundings, and two starts aren’t enough to draw sweeping conclusions about what he’ll be for the Dodgers. But his first 11 innings have identified one specific area worth watching.
The walks are up. The command hasn’t been as sharp. And his next opponent happens to be one of baseball’s better teams at taking advantage of exactly that problem.
