What happened: Skubal is scheduled to make his Dodgers postseason debut Saturday after Los Angeles lined him up for Game 1. MLB Network cast the outing as a tone-setting assignment for the Dodgers and described him as "the new kid on the block." He arrived in Dodger blue after the deadline deal and now opens October on the mound.

Why it matters: That assignment gives Skubal immediate weight in his first October appearance for Los Angeles because the opener can shape the early rhythm of a postseason series. The Dodgers carried a 99-60 record into the playoffs, so the club is asking a midseason addition to front a 99-win team from the outset.

What to watch: First pitch will begin Skubal's first postseason outing for Los Angeles. The next read is whether he delivers the tone-setting start the Dodgers want from their Game 1 arm.