The Los Angeles Dodgers will give Tarik Skubal the starting nod in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, the team announced Friday.
"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," Skubal said on Friday, according to MLB.com's Sonja Chen.
Saturday's start will mark Skubal's first postseason appearance for the Dodgers, who acquired him from the Detroit Tigers ahead of the trade deadline.
The 29-year-old earned the start over fellow two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Skubal pitched well for the Dodgers during the regular season, authoring a 2.61 ERA, 2.36 FIP, and 10.2 K/9 in 10 starts.
Los Angeles is attempting to become the first team to win three straight World Series titles since the New York Yankees did it from 1998-2000.
The Braves, meanwhile, will counter Skubal with a bullpen game, according to Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. They've yet to announce an opener for the contest.
Atlanta rode a bullpen game to victory in the deciding Game 3 of its NL wild-card series to eliminate the Philadelphia Phillies. Left-hander Ray Kerr opened that game with 3 1/3 scoreless innings, while ace Chris Sale came out of the 'pen to finish off the win.
First pitch of the series opener at Dodger Stadium is set for 4 p.m. ET.
