MLB Exec Weighs in on Dodgers' World Series Odds After Tarik Skubal Trade, 'It's Still Baseball'

Despite a general defeatist attitude among fans and analysts that Tarik Skubal's addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation ensures another World Series title, people in MLB aren't entirely ready to adopt that approach.

Per The Athletic's Jayson Stark, one league executive explained "it's still baseball" when addressing why the Dodgers could end up losing in the playoffs even with Skubal in the rotation:

"You know, Tarik Skubal pitched for a playoff team last year. And he pitched twice in a five-game series. And that team lost that playoff series. So even as unbelievable as he is, even as unbelievable as (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto is, and even as unbelievable as Ohtani is … it's still baseball."

It's true that Skubal pitched twice in the ALDS for the Detroit Tigers last year and they lost in five games to the Seattle Mariners, but the No. 2 starter on that team was Casey Mize, not Yamamoto.

One thing that's being lost in the discussion about Skubal going to Los Angeles is how he might end up being even more of a necessity rather than an extreme luxury on a loaded roster.

The Dodgers' injuries are piling up with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Dalton Rushing and Will Smith among the players currently on the IL. Snell and Glasnow are getting close to returning, but neither one has a particularly strong track record when it comes to being healthy.

Shohei Ohtani still has no return timetable to pitch due to knee and biceps injuries, though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said nothing he has been told suggests the four-time MVP won't be able to throw in games again this season.

Rushing's status for the remainder of the season is up in the air due to a slight UCL tear in his right elbow. Smith won't return from a neck injury until at least mid-August.

Edwin Díaz has returned from April elbow surgery to remove loose bodies, but he's still getting back into the swing of things with five hits and two runs allowed in 2.2 innings over three appearances.

Even though regular-season results don't mean much for the Dodgers at this point since they have the biggest division lead in MLB, they have lost a season-high five straight games and their statistical performance over the past month is worth keeping an eye on.

The idea that the Dodgers are unstoppable was nearly disproven last year in the. Not to make the Kenny Atkinson argument, but the Philadelphia Phillies led in the sixth inning or later in two of their three NLDS losses to Los Angeles.

If Miguel Rojas doesn't hit one of the most unexpected homers in playoff history or Andy Pages didn't make one of the most dramatic catches in a World Series game, the Toronto Blue Jays win Game 7.

All of this is to say that Skubal may be far more important for the Dodgers in October rather than just being another superstar talent on a roster that was already loaded with them.