The Los Angeles Dodgers have significantly strengthened their pitching rotation with the acquisition of Tarik Skubal. Skubal is slated to make his highly anticipated debut with the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
Skubal joins a Dodgers team already considered a favorite to win the World Series. With his addition, the Dodgers now boast three of the top-20 pitchers in baseball based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR): Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3.1 WAR, 13th), Shohei Ohtani (3.0 WAR, 17th), and Skubal (2.9 WAR, 19th).
The Dodgers are listed as sizable favorites at -198 on the moneyline for Skubal's first start with the team. This will be Skubal's first time pitching at Wrigley Field, a new environment for the left-handed pitcher.
The Cubs present a disciplined lineup, ranking third in the league with a 27.5% Chase Rate and second with a 44.8% Swing Rate, according to StatCast. Skubal, however, has excelled in limiting walks and inducing strikeouts this season, making him a strong matchup against a patient hitting team.
FanDuel Sportsbook has set Skubal's strikeout prop at 7.5, with odds favoring the Over. In 16 starts this season, Skubal has recorded at least eight strikeouts in eight of those appearances. He is expected to be a key contributor to the Dodgers' pitching staff for the remainder of the season.