What happened: Making his first playoff start for Los Angeles, Tarik Skubal completed six innings and issued two walks. He exited the series opener after holding the opposition in check.

Why it matters: The performance delivered the front-line stability the organization sought when targeting Skubal ahead of the trade deadline. Covering six frames keeps the primary relief arms rested for the remaining contests.

What to watch: The rotation duties will pass to the rest of the staff as the postseason series progresses.