Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal Usage Already Raising Eyebrows

When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers ahead of this year's trade deadline, they knew there was only a guarantee of a two-month relationship.

Yes, if the Dodgers go deep into October it will stretch into three months, but after that, Skubal will head to free agency, where an expected bidding war could make him the highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball history.

The Dodgers aren't thinking that far ahead, though, and instead just focusing on the current two or three months that they'll have Skubal.

And based on the way they're using him thus far, they're truly trying to get everything out of him in this potential short time.

Last Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers, Skubal set a career-high by throwing 109 pitches. While he finished five innings at 95 pitches, manager Dave Roberts allowed him to go back out for the sixth.

He responded by striking out the side.

Tarik Skubal struck out the side in a dominant sixth inning against the Brewers. His final line on Sunday for the Dodgers:

6 IP
7 H
1 ER (2 R)
2 BB
7 K
109 pitches (career-high)
18 whiffs pic.twitter.com/h4bFCdVRBC
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) August 16, 2026

“I was just frustrated with the pitch count through five,” Skubal said after the game. “Just need to be more efficient. I’m glad Doc gave me an opportunity to go back out there for the sixth."

A week later, in his Saturday start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Skubal was able to go deeper into the game, completing seven innings for the first time as a Dodger. It didn't come with a low pitch count, though.

Skubal threw 106 pitches, which is the third-most he's ever thrown in a regular season game. The only regular season game with the Detroit Tigers in which he threw more pitches was June 28, 2022, when he needed 108 pitches to complete 4.2 innings against the San Francisco Giants.

Tarik Skubal, Most Pitches In An MLB Game:

109 - 6 days ago
108 - 6/28/2022
107 - 9/30/2025 (ALWC)
106 - tonight pic.twitter.com/rWitZHxZ81
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 23, 2026

The Dodgers are clearly looking to maximize their return on Skubal, who hadn't thrown more than 96 pitches in a game this season with the Tigers.

The reigning two-time Cy Young award winner has expressed no issue with the higher pitch count. His only problems have been with his own pitching not allowing him to go deeper into games.

“Early in games, I might just be trying to feel it out too much instead of just competing with what I got in that moment. That’s something that I need to make a change for," Skubal said after Saturday's game. "Instead of trying to command the ball early, maybe just go out there and compete with what I got and then the adjustments will happen naturally.

“Early in games, my stuff should be more crisp than it is. I think it’s just about competing early in games instead of trying to find a feel for things. Just go out there and compete.”

The Dodgers have been very happy with what they've gotten from Skubal so far. They also know there's plenty more in the tank.

Skubal has pitched more than 190 innings in each of the last two seasons. After missing six weeks due to elbow surgery this season, he currently sits at just 120.2.

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