Tarik Skubal laid it bare after the Dodgers’ 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, calling his own performance “not acceptable” on August 16, 2026. This isn’t just a pitcher being hard on himself; this is a back-to-back Cy Young winner holding himself to a standard the Dodgers desperately need if they want that third consecutive World Series ring.
The Pitch Count That Pushed the Bullpen
Yeah, Skubal went six innings against the Brewers and gave up just one run while striking out seven batters. That sounds decent, right? But the problem was all about getting there. He coughed up seven hits and walked two, which drove that pitch count way up way too early. The dude finished with a season-high 99 pitches, and he was clearly frustrated. Skubal said it himself, “I think I was just frustrated with the pitch count through five (innings). Just need to be more efficient… save some innings from the bullpen; they’ve been kind of grinding for us.” He knows exactly what the issue is.
Bolstering the Rotation, Or Pushing It?
The Dodgers brought Skubal in for one reason: to bolster that rotation and lead them to a third straight World Series. This is the guy who’s made a living off of going deep into games, but since he got to Los Angeles, that hasn’t been the story. His last outing was five innings, the one before that was six. He’s not wrong when he says, “My last outing was 5, the one before that was 6; that’s just not acceptable, it’s not the standard of what I think I’m capable of in this league.” For a team with championship aspirations, getting your ace to consistently go deep is non-negotiable. The bullpen can only grind so much.
Skubal’s self-assessment shows he knows the stakes. For the Dodgers to truly contend for that World Series, he needs to get back to pitching those deep, efficient games. The capability is there; everyone knows that. Now it’s about getting it done on the mound.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply