All eyes were on Tarik Skubal tonight in his Dodgers debut, and while he didn’t completely dominate, he did show why he was so coveted. He was unlucky to be trailing when he exited, both due to some batted ball luck and because the Dodgers offense didn’t help him out at all. No matter as the bullpen continued to be a sieve anyway, as they lost to the Cubs, 5-1.
That’s five losses in a row, a season high.
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To begin his Dodgers career, Tarik Skubal got a strikeout on a 99 MPH sinker as a part of a 1-2-3 frame.
Tarik Skubal’s starts his Dodgers career with a strikeout on a 99 MPH sinker. pic.twitter.com/AXEQ8AQIlK
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 5, 2026
He also got a bunch of help from his defense in this game in terms of preventing bloop hits, with Andy Pages robbing a pair and even Kyle Tucker making a diving catch.
Andy Pages with a sliding catch, Tarik Skubal is pleased. pic.twitter.com/CJAnTfxwSo
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 5, 2026
Now Kyle Tucker makes a diving catch in right. Cubs fans might have motivated him, think that’s the first time he’s done that all year or something. pic.twitter.com/dmOcMfQlMo
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 5, 2026
Andy Pages with his second great catch. pic.twitter.com/c9UprqWp2w
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 5, 2026
Some of that helped him get through a clean 2nd as well, but Dansby Swanson started the 3rd by ambushing a first-pitch fastball for a homer.
dansby left no doubt about that one. pic.twitter.com/31VULxP4vH
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 5, 2026
After he got the next two, a single, stolen base, and walk put a pair on but he was able to get the shut the door on that chance to end the 3rd. Skubal then cruised through both the 4th and 5th, but the 6th was sort of a mess. After getting the first out, he issued a walk, then gave up a double on a ball Tucker couldn’t glove at the wall. With the infield in, Tommy Edman got the out at home on a grounder, but then Nico Hoerner followed by chopping a ball to Edman that went for an infield single and did plate a run anyway.
After a walk, Tucker can’t catch a ball at the wall for a double, Edman gets an out at home, but a Hoerner chop scores the go-ahead run. Sigh. pic.twitter.com/ntvGX2613g
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 5, 2026
Skubal then got the last out of the inning, which also ended his outing as the Dodgers were conservative with him: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 85 Pitches.
Tarik Skubal strikes out six in his Dodgers debut. pic.twitter.com/ma9Qd1HkQE
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 5, 2026
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Unfortunately, he did leave trailing because … well, the offense continued to frustrate.
Playing second fiddle a bit was Javier Assad for the Cubs, who got a 1-2-3 frame in the 1st but did have to throw 20 pitches. The 2nd started promising with a Max Muncy walk, but the next pitch was grounded hard by Mookie Betts into a double play. That stung more when Kyle Tucker answered the boos with his 10th homer of the year to make it 1-0 Dodgers. He really hates hitting at Dodger Stadium.
Kyle Tucker homers for the lead, which does not quiet the boos, lol. He really hates hitting at Dodger Stadium, huh. pic.twitter.com/uOXL5ZDwIM
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 5, 2026
He didn’t let that affect him, as he rebounded with a clean 3rd and gave up just a one-out walk in the 4th. The Dodgers then had another frustrating inning, as Kyle Tucker led off with a single and got to second with nobody out on a wild pitch, but then Teoscar Hernandez struck out on a ball way out of the zone and a pair of groundouts stranded him.
The 6th continued that, as a lead-off single from Shohei Ohtani was followed by an Andy Pages double play. Then after Freddie Freeman singled, that was the end of Assad’s night, but Ryan Rolison got Max Muncy to strikeout to end that frame. Rolison continued in the 7th by getting two outs, then turned it over to Tyler Ferguson for the final out of the inning.
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Meanwhile, the Cubs added against the pen that has continued to struggle.
Alex Vesia took over for him in the 7th, giving up a lead-off double, but he did get two groundouts after. However, Pete Crow-Armstrong singled for an insurance run to make it 3-1.
pete with the insurance knock! pic.twitter.com/IRk0sDs3ch
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 5, 2026
Evan Phillips then entered and gave up a single to Seiya Suzuki to make it 4-1 before that mess ended.
seiya adds another! pic.twitter.com/XyIRGKcmZW
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 5, 2026
Edwin Diaz entered in the 8th to get work in, I guess, but not before Hoerner hit a homer to deepen their woes and make it 5-1. He also gave up a walk and a single, getting just two outs.
beautiful night for a jog around the bases. pic.twitter.com/5y8VLSM7C3
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 5, 2026
Due to pitch count, Jack Dreyer entered for the final out in the 8th.
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The Cubs just had to close out the expanded lead, starting with new acquisition Ryan Zeferjahn in the 8th, who cruised. Closing things out in the 9th was Jacob Webb, who got the side in order, of course.
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Up close and personal with Kyle Tucker after Miguel Amaya drilled him in the helmet on a throw back to the mound somehow.
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The series concludes tomorrow in a day game on MLB Network at 8:20 AM HT/11:20 AM PT/2:20 PM ET. It’ll be Eric Lauer, who is still on the Dodgers, still in the rotation, and still undefeated, up against Shota Imanaga.
