Dodgers could acquire Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline to avoid having to face him in playoffs: Report

Colin Cowherd reacts to Manny Machado pushing back the Los Angeles Dodgers ruining baseball narrative.

There's a clear villain these days in Major League Baseball, and for once, it's not the New York Yankees.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have become the new version of the Death Star, a remarkable collection of talent built as a result of their financial advantages, front office brilliance, and exceptional drafting and development. Superstar catcher Will Smith goes down with a neck injury? Top prospect Dalton Rushing is there to step in and have the second-highest weighted runs created plus (wRC) of any catcher in baseball with more than 150 plate appearances.

Expensive free agent signing Kyle Tucker gets off to a slow start? Andy Pages, who signed for $300,000 as a prospect out of Cuba, turns in a top-25 most valuable season from an offensive player to make up for it. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow miss most of the season with injuries? Unheralded Justin Wrobelski puts up a 2.69 ERA and the same wins above replacement thus far as Zack Wheeler.

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High-priced closer Edwin Diaz has arm surgery? Will Klein, picked up off the scrap heap, has a 2.27 ERA. Alex Vesia, acquired in trade for Dylan Floro, has a 2.35 ERA. Tanner Scott's been one of the most dominant relievers in the sport, and former prospect Edgardo Henriquez has used his 102mph fastball to a 2.43 ERA and hasn't allowed a hit in his last 30 batters faced.

Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal (29) pitches against the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Entering Thursday, the Dodgers were, unsurprisingly,