Tarik Skubal debuts for Dodgers, fanning MVP hopeful Pete Crow-Armstrong with 99 mph strikeout

Two-time AL Cy Young Award holder Tarik Skubal took the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first game with the club, facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The opening batter, Pete Crow-Armstrong, who sits just behind Shohei Ohtani in the 2026 NL MVP race, worked a few pitches before Skubal unleashed a 99-mph fastball that brushed the outside corner for a strikeout. Skubal continued the inning by inducing a fly-out from Seiya Suzuki to center field and a ground-out by Alex Bregman to shortstop.

The performance came amid pre-game banners criticizing the Dodgers, yet Skubal appeared at ease in both his new uniform and the iconic venue. While it remains to be seen if he can sustain this level, the start matched the high expectations surrounding his acquisition.