The Los Angeles Dodgers finally unveiled one of the biggest acquisitions of the trade deadline, handing the ball to Tarik Skubal for his long-awaited debut. The left-hander looked every bit like the frontline starter the organization expected when it completed the blockbuster deal, but his strong outing still wasn’t enough to stop a team-wide slide that continues to grow more concerning.
Los Angeles fell 5-1 to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, extending its losing streak to five games. It marks the Dodgers’ first five-game skid since Sept. 2-6, 2025, and it spoiled what was otherwise an encouraging first appearance from the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner.
Skubal Settles In Quickly
Pitching at Wrigley Field for the first time in his career, Skubal settled in quickly despite the attention surrounding his Dodgers debut. Facing a national television audience on TBS and the expectations that naturally accompany a major trade acquisition, he delivered six solid innings. He allowed four hits and two earned runs while walking two and throwing 85 pitches, 51 of them for strikes.
The outing began exactly as the Dodgers had hoped. Skubal struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong to open his night and over the first two innings retired six of the first seven batters he faced while recording three strikeouts. He appeared comfortable attacking hitters and largely kept the Cubs from generating sustained offense.
His lone major mistake through the early innings came in the third. Dansby Swanson connected on a pitch that found the left-field bleachers, tying the game at 1-1. Beyond that swing, Skubal remained in control and gave Los Angeles every opportunity to take command.
Sixth Inning Turns the Game
The decisive sequence arrived in the sixth inning. Seiya Suzuki worked a one-out walk before Alex Bregman followed with a double, putting runners on second and third. Skubal nearly escaped the threat after Michael Busch hit a ground ball that Tommy Edman fielded cleanly before throwing home to cut down Suzuki. With two outs and the game still tied, it looked as though the left-hander might leave the inning without further damage.
Instead, Nico Hoerner hit a high chopper that brought Bregman home, giving Chicago a 2-1 advantage. It proved to be the final run charged to Skubal and the last inning of his debut.
Dodgers’ Offense Goes Quiet Again
The Dodgers’ offense never responded. Chicago starter Javier Assad limited Los Angeles to one run across 5.1 innings before turning the game over to a dominant bullpen. After collecting four hits against Assad, the Dodgers failed to record another hit for the remainder of the game as the Cubs’ relievers shut the door completely.
Skubal’s first loss since July 12 came despite a performance that largely matched the reputation he carried into Los Angeles. While the result was disappointing, his ability to work efficiently, miss bats, and navigate most of Chicago’s lineup offered an early glimpse of why the Dodgers pursued him so aggressively at the deadline.
The larger concern now shifts back to the club around him. Even with a quality debut from one of baseball’s premier pitchers, the Dodgers could not generate enough offense to end their longest losing streak in nearly a year, leaving them searching for answers as they continue their road trip.
