Will Smith evaluated Tarik Skubal's performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 4, 2026, saying the pitcher used all his pitches, changed speeds and kept hitters off balance while allowing one run over six innings.
Smith, who caught for Skubal throughout the game, said Skubal settled in after the first inning and relied on his changeup, which Smith called one of his best pitches. Smith also stated that Skubal reached 101 mph in the second inning.
Smith cited Skubal's strikeout of Baldwin as evidence of the changeup's difficulty when properly executed, saying, "if he's on, it's really hard to hit." He added that Skubal had been working on the pitch.
Smith said Skubal was a great teammate who integrated quickly after joining the Dodgers via trade. He also mentioned Roberto in discussing the club's performance.
Smith said the Dodgers offense must respond to home runs by supporting one another and continuing to produce, stating, "Pick each other up." He noted that the team got off to a 1-0 start.
Smith emphasized that no postseason lead is safe and that the Dodgers must continue playing good baseball, saying, "it's never safe." He also described the extreme heat and said he felt fine after his body temperature came down.