Dodgers prioritize exploiting key Braves weakness with Tarik Skubal NLDS Game 1 nod

Dave Roberts was biding his time and exercising patience in setting the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation for their NLDS matchup against the Atlanta Braves. He said Wednesday that he wouldn't make a decision until LA knew who their opponent would be and what times they expected to play from October 3 through (potentially) October 9.

On Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported it would be prized trade deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal on the mound for Game 1.

In a rotation stacked with aces, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is king. He's the only starter of the Dodgers' four available who stayed healthy all season, and there's arguably no better postseason arm in the game right now.

However, there was some thought that the Dodgers would put a lefty on the mound against a Braves lineup that struggles more against southpaws. In the regular season, Atlanta batted .250 with a .730 OPS, 142 homers, and 502 RBI against righties; .240/.696 with 62 homers, and 209 RBI against lefties. Matt Olson is the only notable exception to this rule.

Roberts and the Dodgers clearly want to exploit that weakness straight out the gate.

Tarik Skubal named Dodgers' NLDS Game 1 starter over Yoshinobu Yamamoto

This became a debate among Dodgers fans over the last few days. Given Yamamoto's standing within the team, to honor anyone else with the Game 1 start felt like a slight to some, and Dodgers may very have considered giving him the ball on Saturday in order to acknowledge his place atop the pitching hierarchy. Just because the Braves have been hitting righties better doesn't guarantee they'll be great against Yamamoto, who should earn another top-3 Cy Young finish this season.

But the Dodgers also have to consider his usage and how badly they'll need him if they get into longer series. If he was their Game 1 starter and the NLDS goes to five, he'd back on the mound for the win-or-go-home finale, which would've pushed him deeper into a best-of-seven NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres.

Slotting him in for Game 2 means that he would likely be unavailable through the rest of the NLDS, lining him up perfectly to start Game 1 of a potential NLCS.

The whole of baseball was upset about a Dodgers-Tigers Skubal trade that felt inevitable before it happened. Skubal has a chance to make them even angrier on Saturday.

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