The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night, but not because of new starting pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Skubal, whom L.A. recently acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers, made his Dodgers debut at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. The two-time American League Cy Young winner was every bit as good as advertised. In six innings pitched, he threw 85 pitches (51 strikes), allowing just four hits and two runs.
The Dodgers offense ultimately cost them in the 5-1 loss. Skubal’s not sweating that. He knows he turned in a solid performance, despite being much more nervous than normal.
Tarik Skubal talks Dodgers debut
Seventh-year pitcher Skubal admitted in a postgame news conference that Tuesday night’s game felt like his major league debut in terms of “nerves running through” his body. The anxiety still didn’t impact him.
“I think my stuff was plenty good,” Skubal said. “I felt like I commanded everything really well. When I was missing, I was missing in the areas I wanted to go to.”