What happened: Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke argues the Dodgers should trade for Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal before the deadline. The two-time reigning Cy Young winner is a pending free agent, and Detroit's 44-52 record leaves the club facing a choice between trading him or losing him in free agency. Plaschke frames the pursuit as a repeat of the Dodgers' 2023 deadline inaction.
Why it matters: The Dodgers own baseball's best record but have gotten a combined eight starts this season from Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, all sidelined. Plaschke points to 2023, when Los Angeles stood pat at the deadline and was swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild-card round. The column follows the same Dodgers pursuit of Skubal that surfaced two days earlier.
By the numbers: Ohtani underwent a knee procedure last weekend with no return timetable given. A recent bullpen game started by Kyle Hurt required seven relievers in a six-run loss. Detroit sits 44-52, needing to leapfrog six teams for a wild-card spot with Skubal in his walk year.
What to watch: Watch whether Detroit moves Skubal before the trade deadline or holds him for a longer-shot playoff push.