{"id":1751,"date":"2026-08-05T02:23:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T02:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/?p=1751"},"modified":"2026-08-05T02:23:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T02:23:02","slug":"tarik-skubal-pitches-6-effective-innings-in-dodgers-debut-against-cubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/?p=1751","title":{"rendered":"Tarik Skubal pitches 6 effective innings in Dodgers debut against Cubs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal makes his way to the bullpen prior to a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Melissa Tamez)<\/small><\/p>\n

2026-08-05T02:15:19Z<\/p>\n

CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 Tarik Skubal made his Los Angeles Dodgers debut on Tuesday night, pitching six effective innings against the Chicago Cubs.<\/p>\n

It was the first start for Skubal since he was acquired in a trade<\/a><\/span> with Detroit on Saturday night. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was booed when he was introduced with the starting lineups and once again when he went out to the mound for his first career appearance at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n

Skubal struck out three while retiring his first six batters. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Dansby Swanson on his first pitch of the third, and Chicago put two runners on with two down. But Skubal retired Alex Bregman on a flyball to center fielder Andy Pages, ending the inning.<\/p>\n

Skubal allowed a second run on Nico Hoerner\u2019s infield chopper with two down in the sixth, giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead. He struck out six and walked two while throwing 85 pitches, 51 for strikes.<\/p>\n

The NL West-leading Dodgers backed Skubal with a couple of stellar defensive plays. Pages robbed Seiya Suzuki and Pedro Ram\u00edrez with two terrific catches, and Kyle Tucker made a lunging grab on Nico Hoerner\u2019s sinking liner to right in the second.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles was hoping Skubal can play a key role in its third consecutive World Series championship. The left-hander went 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his last six starts for the Tigers, striking out 50 in 37 innings.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just does everything right,\u201d Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve vetted him a lot with coaches and players, and in between the lines, he\u2019s a dog. Outside the lines, he\u2019s humble, respectful, does and says the right things, and it\u2019s like, that\u2019s what you want. Just fortunate that he\u2019s pitching for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skubal\u2019s arrival cemented the Dodgers\u2019 status as the majors\u2019 most imposing franchise and public enemy No. 1 for fans of other teams. A plane flew over Wrigley hours before his first start with a banner that read \u201cTHE DODGERS RUINED BASEBALL,\u201d but the message appeared to be upside down.<\/p>\n

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