Dave Roberts reacts to Tarik Skubal's disappointing Dodgers debut

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dave Roberts reacts to Tarik Skubal's disappointing Dodgers debut

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Aug 5, 2026 9:56 AM ET

Tarik Skubal's long-awaited debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn't go as expected.

The two-time AL Cy Young winner entered Tuesday night's game with a 4.12 ERA in three career starts vs. the Chicago Cubs.

He was out there for six solid innings at Wrigley Field, holding the home team to just four hits and two earned runs. He struck out six, issued two walks and tossed 51 strikes en route to a 5-1 defeat.

While he acknowledged that he wasn't perfect, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts liked what he saw from his new weapon.

Dave Roberts liked Tarik Skubal's Dodgers debut

“I thought Tarik was fine. Lot of emotion and adrenaline. He limited the damage,” Roberts said, via SportsNet LA. “Skubal’s stuff was good. Really outstanding. This was the first time I’d seen him pitch live, and even if it wasn’t perfect, he was throwing very powerful pitches.”

"We've got to find a way to win a ball game."

Dave Roberts addresses the media after the #Dodgers 5-1 loss to the Cubs. pic.twitter.com/euGdXynP48
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 5, 2026

Notably, Tuesday night's game was Skubal's lowest-pitch-count game in months. The Dodgers kept him on a strict 85-pitch count, and that might be a common trend going forward:

“I’m not going to push him every time out,” Roberts said. “We have a lot of baseball left to play. He’s a guy that we’re all counting on, so I think that I’m going to manage, pick my spots with him.”

The Dodgers are clearly thinking about October, not August, and they'll err on the side of caution with all of their stars, especially with so many injuries to their starting rotation.

As for Skubal, this is likely the worst he'll ever be for his new team, so Dodgers fans have every reason to be excited.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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