Skubal Throws 7 Shutout Innings for Dodgers, Credits Smith After 9-K Reds Win

Q: Skubal shook off Will Smith only once in 90 pitches, but what was that single pitch, and why did he reject it?

It has not been publicly identified. In the available postgame reporting, Skubal said only that he “shook [Smith] one time tonight,” but neither he nor the Dodgers specified which pitch it was or the exact game situation. What is clear from Skubal’s comments is why the shakeoff stood out: it was rare, not a sign of disagreement. He emphasized that he trusted Smith “with calling every pitch” and said the two were “in pretty good rhythm,” underscoring that the battery’s alignment — not the lone rejection — was the real takeaway from the outing. The broader reporting around Skubal’s transition to Los Angeles also suggests the shakeoff likely reflected normal in-game feel rather than any issue with Smith’s sequencing. Skubal has said he is still learning the Dodgers’ catchers and pitching staff, and that better communication has helped him stop overthinking pitch selection and focus on execution.

2 articles · Updated · Heavy.com · Sep 15

Seven scoreless innings on 90 pitches gave Tarik Skubal a 10-7 record Monday as the Dodgers opened their Reds series with a dominant win.
Will Smith’s pitch calling was central to it, Skubal said, adding he shook off only one sign as the new battery continues to build rhythm ahead of October.
Eight starts into his Dodgers stint, Skubal has logged more than 50 innings with a 2.57 ERA, 57 strikeouts and a 1.040 WHIP.
Los Angeles improved to 91-57, already clinched a 14th straight playoff berth and sits two games behind Milwaukee for MLB’s best record.