Lefty Tarik Skubal will make his first home start as a Dodger Monday when Los Angeles opens a three-game series against the Royals.

Skubal, snapped up by the Dodgers in a deal for minor league prospects with Detroit ahead of the MLB trade deadline earlier this month, pitched six effective innings Aug. 4 in his Dodgers debut at against the Cubs in Chicago. Skubal struck out three while retiring his first six batters.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner will face a Kansas City team that he saw regularly as part of the AL Central before his move to the West Coast. He most recently faced the Royals July 24 when struck out a season-high 12 batters through 7 1/3 innings. Skubal has a 3.86 ERA in 19 career games (17 starts) against Kansas City.

At 49-70, the Royals are at the bottom of an AL Central with one team above .500 entering this week.

Los Angeles could use a home-field boost, having won just once in their last nine outings. The stretch includes back-to-back sweeps at the hands of the Red Sox and Cubs and a 2-1 series loss against NL West foe Arizona.

“We’ve made some Deadline acquisitions with some top-end guys, but this guy is something special,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think there was a lot of anticipation. There’s going to be a lot of excitement. I think he’s going to be excited to pitch at home at Dodger Stadium in a Dodger uniform. I’m looking forward to it.”

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.

As a Tiger, Skubal pitched at Dodger Stadium once, allowing four runs through five innings in the 2025 Dodgers home opener.

Skubal’s start will be followed by the highly anticipated return of fellow Cy Young winner Blake Snell, set to pitch after coming off the 60-day injury list.

The 33-year-old Snell started just one game this season. The lefty started the season on the injured list with shoulder fatigue, returned for one game May 9 against the Atlanta Braves, and then went back on the IL because he needed surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.

Despite recent struggles, Los Angeles (70-48) remains 7.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks in the NL West.