Tarik Skubal shows exactly what kind of weapon he can be for Dodgers in Game 1 win

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal to be a weapon for them in the postseason. On a toasty Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, Skubal lived up to every bit of the hype surrounding his postseason Dodger debut.

In the first step toward a potential third consecutive World Series title, Skubal, the reigning two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, continued his reign this season over the Atlanta Braves with 6.0 dominant innings to pace the Dodgers to a 5-3 victory in the first game of the National League Division Series.

Skubal limited the Braves to two hits while striking out seven and walking just two in a 94-pitch clinic.

After allowing a leadoff single, Skubal retired the next 15 batters before Sean Murphy homered to break the streak and put Atlanta on the board.

Earlier this season against the Braves, while still with the Detroit Tigers, Skubal struck out seven while scattering five hits and allowing two runs in an eventual 4-3 Tigers loss. The southpaw earned a no-decision as the Detroit bullpen eventually allowed the winning runs.

On Saturday, the Dodgers bullpen held on to give Skubal his third career postseason win and his first in the National League.

Tarik Skubal chases Bob Gibson, shows Dodgers control their own fate

With his seven strikeouts on Saturday, Skubal now has 63 career postseason strikeouts. According to MLB research guru Sarah Langs, that’s the second-most in a pitcher’s first seven postseason appearances, behind only Hall of Famer Bob Gibson's 74.