Cubs will be first to see Dodgers’ blockbuster trade prize Tarik Skubal

Over the weekend, the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers both bolstered their pitching staff with additions to their starting rotation. Naturally, the Dodgers loaded up their team with even more talent by winning the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes, sending three prospects to the Detroit Tigers in return.

The Cubs, meanwhile, addressed their own rotation by acquiring Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays. Chicago parted with two prospects to land the veteran right-hander, who is set to become a free agent after the season. Gausman last pitched on Aug. 1 and has not yet been assigned a debut date with the Cubs, though if he remains on his normal schedule, he is expected to make his first start later this week.

The Dodgers, however, have already announced when Skubal will take the mound. The blockbuster acquisition is set to make his Los Angeles debut on Tuesday, Augusut 4, at Wrigley Field against the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs will be the first to see Tarik Skubal in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform

After dropping two out of three over a weekend series against the New York Yankees, Chicago goes right into a match up with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Monday’s game will begin with a pair of lefties on the mound, Matthew Boyd for the Cubs and Justin Wrobleski for the Dodgers, but then on Tuesday all eyes will be on Skubal, especially with TBS airing the game too.

Before being traded, Skubal owned a 2.79 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He missed some time this year recovering from arthroscopic elbow surgery, but by all accounts is back firing on all cylinders. Facing this pair of elite lefties back-to-back won’t be easy, but could resemble what any team has to get through in the National League come the post season.

For the Cubs, the series provides a glimpse of the caliber of pitching it could encounter in October. There’s no easing into life after the trade deadline, and the Cubs will get an immediate test against one of baseball’s most formidable aces.

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