Los Angeles Dodgers superstar southpaw Tarik Skubal made his Dodger Stadium debut on Monday night after being traded from the Detroit Tigers before this year’s deadline.
Skubal’s home debut for Los Angeles didn’t go as planned. The two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner conceded three earned runs in five innings pitched, getting a no-decision in what ended up as a Dodgers 6-5 win.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts between batters during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals. AP Photo/Caroline Brehman
Dodgers fans were treated to a wholesome moment before the game, when Skubal was greeted by his wife, Jessica, and their two sons (Kasen and Klay) along the right field line before the game began.
It was cool to see Skubal share this family moment shortly before his first home start as a member of the Dodgers. Especially because this pregame routine looks a lot different than it did with he was in Detroit.
When Skubal was still pitching for the Tigers, his pregame family routine included Jessica and their sons greeting Skubal in Detroit’s actual bullpen. This was because Comerica Park’s architecture made it so he could stand right at the bullpen gate, which was positioned at field level in the outfield stands.
Dodger Stadium’s architecture doesn’t allow for this. The Dodgers’ bullpen is isolated, where fans can’t walk up to a field-level gate like they could at Comerica Park.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts at the end of the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Therefore, Skubal’s pregame family routine takes place in a different location: along the Dodgers’ right field line as opposed to in the Tigers’ bullpen. That allowed fans in the stands who showed up early a front-row seat to the warm embrace on an emotional night for the superstar pitcher.
Then again, pitchers are superstitious, routine-oriented creatures. Perhaps this change to Skubal’s pregame routine isn’t ideal, or at least something else he must adapt to with his new team.
Ultimately, the most important thing is that Skubal sees his family before pitching, regardless of where in the stadium it happens.
And the Dodgers got the dub.
