Los Angeles opens its National League Division Series against Atlanta on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on FOX, with left-hander Tarik Skubal on the mound for his first postseason start as a Dodger. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the Game 1 assignment Friday. Skubal, the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner acquired from Detroit in August, went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 regular-season starts for Los Angeles.

Atlanta is expected to use a reliever as an opener opposite Skubal, a source told ESPN, continuing the bullpen-game approach that helped finish the Phillies. Chris Sale closed Thursday's Wild Card clincher with four outs on short rest and is not locked for Game 1; manager Walt Weiss said Sale's Game 2 availability remained on the table pending how the ace feels after the plane ride west.

Roberts said starting Skubal in Game 1 lines him up for a potential Game 5 on five days' rest and prefers early-round rest for a deep staff that also includes Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. Yamamoto is likely pointed at Game 3 in Atlanta after a long sim outing. Heat is a factor for a daytime first pitch in Los Angeles.

Backstory: Atlanta advanced with a 6-2 Game 3 win Thursday behind Michael Harris II's early homer and Sale's electric relief. The Dodgers rested through a first-round bye as an NL top seed.

Where to watch: FOX, 4 p.m. ET Saturday from Dodger Stadium; FS1 carries other NL windows later.

What we know:
Skubal is locked for Dodgers Game 1. Atlanta plans an opener/bullpen game. First pitch is 4 p.m. ET on FOX.

What we don't:
Which Braves reliever opens, and whether Sale pitches Game 2 on Sunday.

Preview only: Skubal is locked; Atlanta's opener is not named in public comments yet. FOX at 4 p.m. ET is the window — finals wait on the last out.