Tarik Skubal, a two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, made a strong debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday evening, striking out Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong in his first at-bat. Crow-Armstrong is considered a leading contender in the National League MVP race, trailing only Shohei Ohtani.
Facing a 2-2 count, Skubal delivered a 99 mph fastball that caught the outside corner, freezing Crow-Armstrong for a strikeout. Skubal followed this by retiring Seiya Suzuki on a fly ball and Alex Bregman on a groundout, completing a scoreless first inning. He appeared comfortable in his first outing for the Dodgers and at Wrigley Field.
In the second inning, Skubal added two more strikeouts, bringing his total to three through two innings. He narrowly avoided allowing a hit when Kyle Tucker made a diving play. The outing marked a promising start for Skubal and the Dodgers, who are seeking to build on his early success.