Tarik Skubal's Dodgers debut turns into a Cubs statement win

The Dodgers didn't need another ace. They already run a rotation with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani, and they still went out and got Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner, from the Tigers before the trade deadline. Detroit got outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith back, a full sell on a pure two-month rental since Skubal hits free agency this winter. It's the kind of move that makes the rest of baseball feel like it's playing a different sport.

Barstool Sports

@barstoolsports

“People say it’s bad for baseball. Dodgers have zero responsibility to baseball. They have zero responsibility to fans of other teams. they’re only responsibility is to try to win as many games and World Series as possible and thats what they’re doing” -BFW

The reaction split predictably. Dave Portnoy said it straight: you can't rip the Dodgers for trying to win, full stop. Others weren't as forgiving, with the usual Dodgers-are-ruining-baseball chorus showing up right on cue the moment the trade went official.

Then Skubal actually had to pitch, and his Dodgers debut came against the Cubs at Wrigley Field of all places — with Kyle Tucker, who spent last season in Chicago, in the lineup against his old team. Skubal opened strong, blowing a 99 mph sinker past Pete Crow-Armstrong to strike out the Wrigley leadoff hitter.

Barstool Baseball

@StoolBaseball

Tarik Skubal strikes out PCA to start his Dodger debut

Tucker got the payback going with a solo homer against his former team, and the Cubs weren't done. Dansby Swanson turned around a Skubal pitch and tied the game with a 102.8 mph blast in the third — his 17th of the season — sending Wrigley into a frenzy against the guy who was supposed to make this Dodgers lineup unbeatable.

Barstool Baseball

@StoolBaseball

DANSBOMB OFF SKUBAL

That's the deal with these Dodgers superteam builds — the star power buys them more attention, not more guaranteed results, and Wrigley just made that point immediately. Skubal is the best pitcher the Tigers had to offer and one of the best arms in the sport, and the Cubs still touched him up twice in his first start wearing blue. Whether that's a blip or a preview of a bumpy transition to a new club with the pennant race heating up is the thing to watch as LA tries to get its money's worth out of a two-month rental.