NL DIVISION SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 2, 2026

Tarik Skubal

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Tarik, when you think about being named the Game 1 starter of the NLDS since coming over to this organization at the trade deadline, you've obviously built such close relationships with these guys. What does it mean to you personally to be named this Game 1 starter to set the tone not only for the playoffs for the Dodgers but for this series?

TARIK SKUBAL: It's an honor and a privilege to start Game 1 and have the trust in the coaching staff and my teammates and the organization to take the ball and go out there and do what I can do to put our team in a position to win. I'm excited for it.

Q. What has the feel been like this week? One of the key words we've been hearing is togetherness. How have you felt just handling these five days preparing your body and ultimately this team preparing for Game 1 tomorrow?

TARIK SKUBAL: As a starting pitcher, you're kind of used to days off. I think for position guys and relievers it's probably a little bit different, but for a starter I'm throwing on seven or eight days or whatever and you make the adjustments that you need to make to your routine.

I think for a starter, again, I think it's probably the easiest to take the time off, but it's been awesome to spend the time with these guys and hang out. Yeah, it's been fun.

Q. What's it going to be like to pitch a home playoff game for the first time?

TARIK SKUBAL: Yeah, I'm excited for the opportunity to throw in front of the fans. Usually when I walk out onto the field in a playoff game, it's usually received with a lot of boos. So I'm excited to get some cheers in there for us. And to pitch at home, I think it's going to be a ton of fun in front of this atmosphere.

Hopefully everyone is drinking a lot of water and staying hydrated. It's going to be a hot one. I'm excited, though.

Q. What do you think has clicked for the last month or so just getting the results back to kind of where you want them to be?

TARIK SKUBAL: I think just sticking to my process, staying true to who I am, and obviously getting on the same page with catchers and everybody. Getting to know everybody, obviously. I think just getting more comfortable kind of in my own skin. I think that matters, and that takes -- that stuff just takes time, especially when you make a big transition in the middle of the season.

Yeah, it's been good to work through all that stuff, and I feel confident with where I'm at.

Q. You have experienced high-pressure moments before, but October has a different kind of wave to it. What have you learned about yourself in these moments that you didn't know before, and what are you still trying to prove to yourself?

TARIK SKUBAL: I think the game of baseball doesn't change. It doesn't change in terms of how I'm going to approach. Obviously the stage is a little bit different and the environments are a little bit different, but how I go out and execute and how I prepare and how I game plan and all that stuff is going to be kind of the exact same.

That's kind of what I trust in any moment. As games get more meaningful and impactful on kind of what the season does, I just revert back to kind of what got me in that position.

Q. Tarik, how does the responsibility of starting a game for this team feel different than starting a playoff game for the Tigers might have?

TARIK SKUBAL: I don't think it really feels much different. It's a playoff game. I'm going out there to try and win a baseball game. That's kind of where I'm at mentally. Yeah, I don't think it's much different at all.

Q. How did you use those seven off days? Did you throw live at all or just do your usual bullpen?

TARIK SKUBAL: Just threw a couple bullpens, two side sessions instead of one. So I feel ready to go. I feel strong, healthy, in shape, and I'm excited about it.

Q. How did they break the news to you, and what was your reaction?

TARIK SKUBAL: Right when I came out of the game in San Fran, they came and shook my hand. I was at kind of a low pitch count. I thought in the moment I was going to be able to finish the game, and he's like get ready for Game 1. That's how I was told, and obviously excited and fired up and ready to go.

Q. Coming in and knowing the strength of this rotation, had that crossed your mind before that point that you're coming in to potentially be a Game 1 starter for this group?

TARIK SKUBAL: I think that we have such talented starters. I think you can roll out any of us in any situation and you're going to be in a really good spot.

Yeah, I don't make any of those decisions. I don't really think about that. They tell me when I'm going, and I'm ready to go that day. That's kind of how I approach it.

Q. Tarik, kind of going back to this being your first home postseason start, this obviously hasn't been home for very long for you. How do you describe the process of assimilating into this team and kind of making it your own these past couple months?

TARIK SKUBAL: I think the fans did a great job of that for my first start here. I think my first start here was really special to me. I think there was 50,000 or whatever to come watch me pitch. I think there was a bobblehead too that day for somebody else, but I'll say they were there for me.

Just the fans, the ovation I got, I didn't even feel all that well, and kind of just to get that reaction and get that kind of interaction with the fans, they've embraced me with everything. I really appreciate that, and I'm excited to throw in front of them tomorrow.

Q. What have you learned in your time here about kind of the culture this team has that has helped it win back-to-back championships?

TARIK SKUBAL: I think from top to bottom, I've said this before, they're very much aligned with trying to win championships. Everybody's got one goal at hand. I fit right in with that. I think everything that I try to do is try to win as many baseball games as I can. I'm excited to start doing that in October.

Q. Both teams will obviously face the same heat, triple-digit conditions, but how do you -- do you prepare your body any differently in terms of hydrating, what you eat going into it or what you'll do in between innings?

TARIK SKUBAL: Drink a lot of water (laughter).

Q. How does that work when you have to use the bathroom too?

TARIK SKUBAL: You're just not going to the bathroom because you're probably sweating it out. That's probably how it is. You're going to drink a lot of water.