What happened: Tarik Skubal closed the sixth inning by retiring Matt Olson on a fly ball, stopping the threat before any run could score. The out pushed Skubal through six innings in a postseason game that had reached a leverage spot.

Why it matters: Escapes like that often decide whether a starter gets another inning or hands the game to the bullpen. For Los Angeles, it also underscored why Skubal was the deadline market's marquee arm for October work.

What to watch: Skubal's pitch count and Los Angeles' bullpen choices from the seventh inning on will shape how long he stays in. Olson's next trip up would become another key checkpoint if the order turns over again.