Opening up a critical homestand, the Los Angeles Dodgers were looking for a jumpstart from Tarik Skubal. What they got, however, were more questions about their offense and current direction with him on the mound.

Acquired from the Detroit Tigers in an MLB trade deadline deal, Skubal made his Dodgers' home debut on Monday night to plenty of fanfare and hype. However, he left the game after five innings and 95 pitches with his team trailing the Kansas City Royals 3-2.

It wasn't that Skubal wasn't effective. He just wasn't overpowering against a Royals team that is mired in the bottom of the American League Central, the division that Skubal used to call home.

The good news for the Dodgers, however, was the offense came to life after Skubal left, rallying twice for a 6-5 win. 

Kansas City Royals found success against Tarik Skubal

Skubal has plenty of experience against the Royals from his days with the Tigers, pitching in 19 career games (with 17 starts) against Kansas City. He logged a 5-9 record with a 3.86 ERA over 102.2 innings pitched.

While Skubal has plenty of experience against the Royals, Monday night was the first time that Jac Caglianone had stepped into the box against Skubal. It didn't take long for the Royals slugger to show he was quite comfortable against the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.

Caglianone went 2-for-3 against Skubal, including a two-run shot in the third inning that pushed the visitors' lead to 3-0.

It was the biggest moment of damage against Skubal, who finished by giving up four hits and three runs while striking out six and walking two.

In his two starts with the Dodgers, Skubal's National League ERA stands at 4.09. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has scored three runs in 11.0 innings in Skubal's two starts.

Monday night was a much different line than Skubal posted the last time he faced the Royals. On July 24 (still with Detroit), Skubal went 7.1 innings, giving up four hits and one run while striking out a season-high 12 to lead the Tigers to the win.

Still, with Edwin Diaz setting the Royals down in order in the ninth, all is well that ended well for the Dodgers on Monday night...even without an overpowering Skubal.