What happened: Tarik Skubal reached 101 mph while working the second inning of Los Angeles' postseason opener. The left-hander had already been lined up for the Dodgers' first game of the series earlier Saturday.

Why it matters: That kind of early velocity matters for a club that built its October pitching order around Tarik Skubal. If he holds that gear, Los Angeles gets a stronger foundation for the opener and more flexibility with the rest of its rotation in a short series.

What to watch: The next read is whether Skubal keeps that velocity as his pitch count climbs and the lineup turns over. How deep he works should shape the Dodgers' bullpen map for the rest of Game 1.