The Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal ahead of the trade deadline, and the pitcher took the mound in his new uniform on Tuesday against the Cubs, a playoff-contending team that entered the matchup with a 64-49 record and the top NL Wild Card position.
Skubal’s debut featured a mixed performance. He recorded six strikeouts and two walks while allowing four hits and two earned runs across six innings pitched. He struck out the first batter he faced as a Dodger, Pete Crow-Armstrong, but surrendered a solo home run to Dansby Swanson in the early innings. A second run scored in the sixth inning after a combination of events, including a missed outfield play by Kyle Tucker and an infield single off an unusually high-bouncing ball. Over his outing, Skubal generated 13 whiffs on 43 swings and escaped trouble in the third inning.
The Cubs prevailed 5-1, with the Cubs’ bullpen—featuring newly-acquired Ryan Zeferjahn—limiting the Dodgers’ offensive output. The Cubs added two runs in the seventh inning before Nico Hoerner hit a solo home run in the eighth. Kyle Tucker’s home run in the second inning represented the Dodgers’ only run while Skubal was pitching.
The loss marked the fifth consecutive defeat for Los Angeles, dropping the team’s record to 69-45. The Dodgers have struggled significantly since early July, posting a 10-14 record since July 3. While Skubal’s performance in his debut generated some positive takeaways regarding his overall effectiveness, the lack of offensive support and defensive miscues contributed to the loss.
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