What happened: Alden Gonzalez reported Tarik Skubal is set to open Saturday for Los Angeles after Fabian Ardaya first had the news. The Dodgers have not finalized the order behind him, though Yoshinobu Yamamoto appears to be the logical next starter.

Why it matters: Getting the opener assignment in place lets Los Angeles shape the rest of its postseason rotation around Skubal at the front. It also cements Skubal's lead role in the Dodgers' October pitching plan while the club preserves flexibility for the games that follow.

What to watch: The next call is whether Yamamoto follows Skubal once Los Angeles locks in the rest of the rotation. Saturday's heat could also influence how the Dodgers manage innings later in the series.