Tarik Skubal begins era with Dodgers in encounter vs. Cubs

The rich seemed to get richer when the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired reigning two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal over the weekend.

Skubal will get his first opportunity to pitch for the Dodgers when he takes the mound on Tuesday evening against the host Chicago Cubs.

The left-hander's first start for the reigning two-time World Series champions will arrive at a good time, as the Dodgers have lost four in a row to match their longest losing streak of the season.

The Cubs won the opener of the three-game series on Monday night, smashing four home runs in the 10-5 victory.

The Dodgers have surrendered 30 runs during their four-game skid.

"We just can't find a way to limit damage," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the latest loss.

Skubal (7-5, 2.79 ERA) specializes in limiting damage. He led the AL in ERA the past two seasons en route to winning his Cy Young Awards.

"I'm excited to be here and learn everything about the Dodgers and all these guys here," Skubal said at his introductory press conference prior to the opener of the three-game series on Monday.

Skubal, 29, hopes to help the Dodgers win a third straight World Series title, something last accomplished by the New York Yankees from 1998-2000.

"They've developed a really good organization," he said. "They draft well. They acquire talent really well. They retain talent. It's a winning organization."

Skubal spent seven seasons in Detroit, improving each year after going 8-12 with a 4.34 ERA in his first full campaign with the Tigers in 2021.

He won his first Cy Young after going 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 2024, and again after finishing 13-6 in another 31 starts last season with a 2.21 ERA.

The Tigers made the playoffs each of the past two seasons but lost in the AL Division Series each time.

"There's a lot of emotion," Skubal said of leaving the Tigers. "I spent eight years with the Detroit Tigers, and that place will always be special to me, no matter what."

Skubal has never pitched at Wrigley Field. He's 1-1 in three career starts against the Cubs with a 4.12 ERA.

Chicago also was busy at Monday's trade deadline, adding left-handed starter Braxton Garrett, right-hander Clay Holmes, right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn and outfielder Tyrone Taylor.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell expects Zeferjahn to have an immediate impact.

"It's a talented arm that's kind of got his feet wet in the big leagues and has developed in the big leagues, and particularly developing this year," Counsell said. "He's on a good trajectory. We think it's a really good reliever that we can put in our bullpen and commit innings to."

Right-hander Javier Assad is scheduled to start on Tuesday for the Cubs.

Assad (6-1, 3.75) has split his time as a starter and reliever this season.

He most recently went 4 1/3 innings as a starter last Thursday against the host St. Louis Cardinals, allowing one run and six hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 4-2 win in 10 innings.

Assad has made two appearances against the Dodgers in his career, including one start, and is 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA in those games.

--Field Level Media