The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Chicago for a Tuesday night showdown at Wrigley Field, with first pitch set for 8:05 PM ET on August 4, 2026. Tarik Skubal takes the ball for Los Angeles against Cubs right-hander Javier Assad in what shapes up as one of the better pitching matchups of the week. With the dog days of summer in full swing and the playoff picture coming into sharper focus, every game in this stretch carries real weight for a Dodgers club that expects to contend deep into October. Catch it on SportsNet LA or nationally on TBS.
Pitching Matchup: Skubal vs. Assad at Wrigley Field
Tarik Skubal is the story on the mound for the Dodgers tonight. The left-hander, acquired to give Los Angeles a frontline arm capable of standing tall in big moments, draws one of the toughest environments in baseball — a packed Wrigley Field crowd that knows how to get into a pitcher's head. Skubal's ability to generate swing-and-miss with his fastball-changeup combination will be tested against a Cubs lineup that plays well at home.
Javier Assad gets the start for Chicago. The Cubs right-hander has shown the ability to keep hitters off-balance with a varied arsenal, and pitching at Wrigley gives him a genuine home-field advantage. The Dodgers will need to be disciplined at the plate and avoid expanding the zone early in counts if they want to put crooked numbers on the board against him.
Keys to Watch for the Dodgers
- Skubal's command: Wrigley's atmosphere can disrupt rhythm. If Skubal locates his fastball to both sides of the plate early, he controls the tone of the game.
- Dodgers lineup vs. Assad: Assad can be susceptible when hitters work deep counts and force him into the zone. Patient at-bats will be critical.
- Bullpen management: August baseball means teams are managing workloads carefully heading toward September. How the Dodgers handle any pivot from Skubal to the relievers could determine the late innings.
- Wrigley Field environment: Day-night and wind conditions at Clark and Addison can shift the run-scoring environment dramatically. The Dodgers need to read the park and adjust their approach accordingly.
Prediction
This is a pitching-first game that could go either way, but Skubal gives the Dodgers a genuine edge on the mound. If he can carry the lineup through six innings and limit the Cubs to two or three runs, Los Angeles has enough offensive firepower to win a close one on the road. Expect a tight, low-scoring contest that likely comes down to the bullpen in the seventh or eighth inning. Dodgers take this one, 4-2.
