Dodgers Offense Survives Another Rough Night Behind Tarik Skubal

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 thanks to some clutch hitting and sensational pitching.

The Dodgers were riding a three-game losing streak at the hands of the Atlanta Braves, who swept LA in a three-game series.

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Things were bleak for the Dodgers offensively, defensively, and even pitching-wise as they fell to 2-for-14 against teams above .500.

While the Tigers are below .500, they are still somehow in the Wild Card race and fought hard against the Dodgers, making the win mean more than Detroit’s record suggests.

Aug 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) singles in a run against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn ImagesThe offense does just enough

The Dodgers got a good amount of traffic, totaling nine hits and a shocking nine walks, which created the bases loaded multiple times, though LA failed to get runs across the board.

Still, there was enough to eke out a victory, with a clutch RBI single from Freddie Freeman to get the second run on the board.

There were also a lot of strikeouts again, with nine in total, but the at-bats were definitely a lot better in terms of making the pitchers work hard and earn their outs.

Manager Dave Roberts will take it as a step in the right direction, but they need to be better with runners in scoring position and on base.

Tarik Skubal shinesAug 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Skubal pitched six innings, allowing four hits and no walks, with seven strikeouts.

He had six strikeouts in the first three innings of his start, but the lefty got fewer whiffs and called strikes as his outing went on.

Skubal looks out of this world right now.

Other than the lead-off double he allowed, he has been shoving.

He has six strikeouts and only one hit allowed, facing one over the minimum.

Safe to say he is handling his Detroit return well. pic.twitter.com/rbEN6Q8yaE

— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) August 28, 2026

Still, it was a stellar outing that could have gone longer, given he was only at 83 pitches when he left the game, but the Dodgers will certainly take that from their star pitcher in his return to Detroit.

He set up the bullpen well, with Evan Phillips throwing a great 1-2-3 outing that struck out the side. Brock Stewart was a bit more shaky, but Alex Vesia cleaned up his mess, and Tanner Scott got the save to bounce back.