What happened: Los Angeles ended the suspense Friday by giving Tarik Skubal the ball for its Division Series opener. The official call follows days of alignment toward Skubal at the front of the postseason rotation.

Why it matters: The Game 1 assignment sets the order for the rest of a short series and gives Los Angeles its first shot to dictate matchups. The decision cements Skubal as the Dodgers' opener against Atlanta and puts the club's hottest recent starter on the mound first.

What to watch: Attention now turns to how Los Angeles orders the rest of its NLDS rotation behind Skubal. Once Game 1 starts, the series leverage shifts quickly to the left-hander.