Los Angeles Dodgers (69-45) at Chicago Cubs (65-49) | Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 1:20 PM CT | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Two days ago, I would have taken a series win against the Dodgers and been thrilled. Now the Cubs are one game away from a full sweep of the best record in baseball, and honestly, it doesn’t feel like a fluke anymore. Chicago has outscored Los Angeles 15-6 through the first two games of this series, spoiled Tarik Skubal’s Dodgers debut, and sent the reigning juggernaut to a five-game losing streak. As a Cubs fan, I’m allowing myself to get a little excited about this afternoon at Wrigley.
Here’s the full breakdown of today’s series finale: pitching matchups, odds, injuries, and my final prediction.
Game Info: Cubs vs. Dodgers
- Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2026
- First Pitch: 2:20 PM ET
- Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
- TV/Streaming: MARQ (Chicago)
- Series: Cubs lead 2-0 and go for the sweep in the getaway-day finale
How the Cubs Have Dominated This Series So Far
Let’s just sit with this for a second: the Dodgers own the best record in baseball, and the Cubs have made them look thoroughly ordinary for two straight days. Chicago won the opener 10-5, then followed it up by taking down Skubal himself in his Los Angeles debut, 5-1. Los Angeles is now riding its worst losing streak of the season, having dropped five in a row and gone just 3-7 over its last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Cubs have been steady, going 6-4 over that same stretch and playing with real confidence at home.
This isn’t just one hot Cubs lineup catching a couple of bad Dodgers starts, either — Los Angeles’ rotation is genuinely banged up right now, and it’s showing. Today’s Dodgers starter is a testament to just how thin that group has gotten.
Probable Pitchers
Los Angeles Dodgers: Eric Lauer (6-5, 4.50 ERA)
Lauer is filling in for a rotation that’s been stripped down by injuries, and while he did have one strong outing recently — one hit over six shutout innings against Seattle — his season-long numbers paint the picture of a back-end arm plugging a hole rather than a true difference-maker. That’s exactly the kind of matchup the Cubs need to keep piling onto this series.
Chicago Cubs: Shota Imanaga (7-9, 3.67 ERA)
Don’t let the win-loss record fool you — Imanaga has been quietly excellent for months now, with his ERA dropping a full run since mid-June. Over his last nine starts, he’s allowed just 12 runs across 51.2 innings, good for a 2.09 ERA in that stretch. He did get tagged by the Dodgers back in April, but this is a different Imanaga than the one Los Angeles saw earlier this season, and a much different Dodgers offense walking into Wrigley today.
Betting Odds for Cubs vs. Dodgers
- Moneyline: Dodgers +110 / Cubs -118
- Run Line: Cubs -1.5 (+160) / Dodgers +1.5 (-194)
- Total: 9 to 9.5 runs
Here’s what stands out: the Cubs are home favorites with the clearly superior starter, riding a series sweep so far, against a Dodgers team using an emergency arm to fill out its rotation — and the moneyline is still nearly a coin flip. That tells you everything about how much respect the market still has for a Los Angeles lineup that features Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy. Even a cold Dodgers offense can change a game with one swing from that trio, and the number reflects it.
Key Storylines to Watch
Going for the sweep. There’s something different about a team playing with house money, and that’s exactly where the Cubs are today. Sweeping the best record in baseball is the kind of statement win that can carry a team through a playoff push, and Wrigley should be buzzing for the chance to finish the job.
Ohtani, Freeman, and Muncy are still dangerous. No matter how cold the rest of the Dodgers lineup has looked, this trio can single-handedly flip a game. Imanaga will need to be careful in the zone against all three, especially with runners on.
Imanaga’s home track record. He’s racked up at least five strikeouts in 8 of 13 home starts this season, and Wrigley has generally been a comfortable environment for him. Given how the Dodgers have been swinging the bat lately, there’s a real case for him to have another strong strikeout day.
The Dodgers’ rotation crunch. With injuries forcing Los Angeles into using Eric Lauer today, this is about as favorable a pitching matchup as the Cubs will see against a team of the Dodgers’ caliber all season. If Chicago’s lineup jumps on him early like it has the rest of this series, this could get out of hand quickly.
Prediction: Cubs vs. Dodgers
I’ve been trying to stay level-headed through this series, but it’s hard not to like what I’m seeing from this Cubs team right now. Imanaga is pitching some of the best baseball of his season, the Dodgers are trotting out a fill-in starter, and Chicago’s lineup has looked comfortable against this pitching staff for two straight days. The Dodgers’ star power means this is never a game to count out completely, but the matchup clearly favors Chicago today.
As a Cubs fan, I’m going all in on the sweep. This team has earned the right to be believed in after this series, and I think the good version of Imanaga shows up at home to close this one out.
Final Score Prediction: Chicago Cubs 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 3
Odds, probable pitchers, and injury statuses are subject to change ahead of first pitch — always confirm the latest lineups and lines before placing any wagers. This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only.
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