The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their losing streak to six games after dropping a 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs on August 6, 2026, two days after Tarik Skubal made his Dodgers debut at Wrigley Field. Skubal, acquired just before the August 3 trade deadline from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for three prospects, pitched six innings allowing two earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks in the August 4 starting assignment, but the Dodgers lost 5-1 to the Cubs, marking their fifth straight defeat at that point [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The Dodgers were swept in back-to-back series first by the Boston Red Sox and then by the Cubs, culminating in the six-game skid [3, 4, 5]. Their offense has struggled, averaging 4.18 runs per game since July 1, ranking 20th in Major League Baseball. Only three of the eleven games before the losing streak saw the Dodgers score more than four runs [6, 5]. Key hitters such as Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, and Kyle Tucker have hit below expectations during this stretch [6, 4, 5]. Tucker, signed to a four-year, $240 million contract, hit a home run during the August 4 game but faced heavy booing from opposing fans in Chicago [1, 2, 4, 5].
The Dodgers’ bullpen has shown inconsistency, having blown leads late in several games during the slump [2, 4, 5]. Starting pitching has also been under pressure due to injuries and underperformance by Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki [2, 3, 4, 5]. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the streak, saying, "I think that you just got to kind of reset. Flush it, find a way to win a game, and not let it just compound. But it never feels good to lose. My focus right now is just forget about these last five games and be ready for tomorrow" [6, 5]. Betts described the slump as a "rut" but remained confident they would recover, adding, "I just know I've got to be better. I can't speak for anyone else" [6].
Despite the losses, the Dodgers hold an eight-game lead atop the National League West as of early August 2026 [6, 5]. Sports commentator Colin Cowherd criticized the team's overall condition, stating, "Don't just look at the shiny exterior; look under the hood: the Dodgers are a mess right now. Bringing in Skubal feels like preparing a lifeboat rather than adding a helipad on a yacht. The Dodgers have bullpen and aging issues" [4].
