Tarik Skubal gets nod for 1st career home playoff start as Dodgers open NLDS against Braves

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tarik Skubal expects to hear cheers instead of the usual boos when he takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday.

That's because the 29-year-old left-hander will be starting a postseason game at home for the first time in his career. His first six career playoff starts with the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and '25 all came on the road.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to throw in front of the fans,” Skubal said. “I’m excited to get some cheers in there for us. 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.”

And he's not talking about his own high heat.

Los Angeles is under an extreme heat warning that's expected to last into late next week. Saturday's high is forecast to hit 100 degrees (38 Celsius) at a time of year when the average temperature is 81 degrees (27 Celsius).

“You're going to drink a lot of water,” Skubal said.

He was chosen as the Game 1 starter over 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamato. The Braves had yet to name a starter.

Manager Dave Roberts informed Skubal last Sunday after his final regular-season start in San Francisco that he would get the ball for the NLDS opener.

“I don’t always get to deliver good messages, and that was a good one, a fun one,” Roberts said. “With this ballclub it’s an easy kind of thought that Yoshi would be the Game 1 starter, absolutely. So Tarik was very respectful of Yoshinobu, but we have thoughts on why we do things, and all these guys are all in for whatever we decide.”

In Detroit, Skubal had a career postseason record of 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA and 56 strikeouts.

The Dodgers acquired Skubal from the Tigers just ahead of the August trade deadline in exchange for three prospects. He's earning a record $32 million this season, won through arbitration while still with Detroit. He'll be an unrestricted free agent after the postseason.

He was warmly welcomed by Dodger fans in his home debut on Aug. 10.

“My first start here was really special to me,” Skubal said. “The ovation I got, I didn't even feel that well, and kind of just to get that reaction and get that kind of interaction with the fans, they've embraced me. I really appreciate that.”

He's spent the last couple months learning the catchers and getting to know his new teammates.

“Just getting more comfortable kind of in my own skin,” he said. “I think that matters and that stuff just takes time, especially when you make a big transition in the middle of the season. I feel confident with where I'm at.”

Landing Skubal had the rest of baseball grumbling that the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers were ruining the sport with their huge payroll and abundance of talent, led by two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.

“From top to bottom, they’re very much aligned with trying to win championships,” Skubal said. “Everybody’s got one goal at hand. I fit right in with that. 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.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) smiles as he walks to the dugout after San Francisco Giants' Shay Whitcomb struck out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal warms up during practice ahead of a baseball NL Division Series Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws during practice ahead of a baseball NL Division Series Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal speaks during a news conference ahead of a baseball NL Division Series Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

SEPANG, Malaysia (AP) — Max Verstappen qualified on pole position for the first time this year at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on a rare off day for Mercedes and Formula 1 standings leader Kimi Antonelli.

Verstappen went fastest by 0.298 of a second from Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar .130 further back in third.

That's a big step toward Verstappen achieving his target of avoiding a first winless season since his 2015 rookie year.

It was an “incredible result for us looking at the season,” Verstappen said. “I felt good, felt confident and I hope we can show that again tomorrow.”

Verstappen won the last time F1 raced at the Sepang circuit back in 2017. His pole position is the first this year for a car powered by a non-Mercedes engine after Mercedes, McLaren and Alpine — all with Mercedes power — topped every qualifying session until now.

Antonelli qualified only fourth, with his Mercedes teammate and closest title challenger George Russell only eighth. Both are set to move up a place on the grid for Sunday's race because Hadjar has a five-place grid penalty for changing his engine over the allocation for the season.

Hamilton's second place came as a relief to the seven-time champion amid a slump in results at Ferrari, which has denied speculation over team principal Fred Vasseur's future.

“Let’s go guys, let’s go. Finally,” Hamilton said over the radio.

Qualifying so low is another blow to Russell's chances of cutting into Antonelli's 66-point lead, and tire troubles played a role.

The Sepang circuit has an abrasive surface that chews up tires and causes them to overheat. That made it even more challenging than usual to pick the right setup to get the best out of the car in qualifying without compromising pace for Sunday's race.

“It’s a very demanding circuit on the tires, the tarmac is all broke up, it’s extremely rough, it’s so hot out there and the tires are going through hell," Russell told broadcaster Sky Sports. "For whatever reason, it seems to be affecting us far more than others.”

Once again, the weather in Malaysia stayed dry for Saturday's sessions despite predictions of heavy rain earlier in the week.

F1 is racing at Malaysia's Sepang circuit for the first time since 2017. It's a replacement event after the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off earlier this year due to the Iran war. The race keeps Bahrain Grand Prix branding and Bahraini staff are organizing it on site.

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain drinks after the qualifying session ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Second fastest time Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waves to spectators after the qualifying session ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, pole position, talks with his teammate Isack Hadjar of France, third fastest time after the qualifying session ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares during the third practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)