Tarik Skubal is making his Los Angeles Dodgers debut tonight at historic Wrigley Field, and despite this massive mid-season acquisition, the Dodgers are facing a potential season-high fifth straight loss. It’s a huge moment for the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner, who will be making his first career start at the iconic park, but the stakes for his new team couldn’t be higher as they desperately try to get back on track.
This Tuesday night matchup against the Cubs, kicking off at 8:05 ET on TBS, was already massive. You’ve got the MVP candidates Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers going against Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong. But Skubal’s arrival just cranks the intrigue up to eleven. Is it fair the Dodgers got him? Probably not. They’re already stacked, and somehow they swung a deal with Detroit, giving up three “pretty good prospects” without even blinking. Other teams could have matched that, maybe even the Cubs, who instead pivoted and brought in starting pitchers Kevin Gausman from Toronto and Clay Holmes from the Mets. Skubal is in his prime, a legit ace, and this move sent shockwaves. It’s giving off serious 2017 Houston vibes when they picked up Justin Verlander, and we all know how that ended.
The Dodgers were already sitting pretty with a projected playoff rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani that was likely the best in the majors. Now they add Skubal? It’s wild. Even the futures odds reflected it: their line to three-peat as World Series champions shifted from +190 to +150 at DraftKings, and their pennant odds went from +105 to -110. It wasn’t crazy movement because they were already favored, but still, Skubal is a game-changer every four days he’s on the mound. And let’s be real, a huge part of this deal was keeping him away from other National League threats like the Cubs, Brewers, and Braves. The Dodgers are just flexing on everyone.
Right now, though, they’re not flexing in the win column. They’re -192 favorites tonight, with Chicago at +171 on the money line, and the Over/Under is 9 total runs. But here’s the kicker: they no longer hold the best record in the National League; that belongs to Milwaukee. This game isn’t just a debut; it’s a test for Skubal, and it’s a gut-check for a Dodgers team that’s supposed to be unstoppable. Can they snap this skid tonight, or will the two-time Cy Young winner’s debut get overshadowed by a season-high losing streak? You gotta watch this one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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