Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
LAD	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	6	14	1
CHC	1	2	0	3	0	0	1	0	—	7	15	0

Eric Lauer (6-5, 4.89 ERA) got the ball for Los Angeles looking to snap a slide that had turned into a full-blown crisis, while Shota Imanaga (7-9, 3.60 ERA) took the mound for Chicago at 1:20 PM CT trying to finish off a series sweep at home.

Show fees

FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Dodgers(69-45)

LLLLL

6

+1.5-170+106o9.5-115

Cubs(65-49)

WWLWL

7

-1.5+167-108u9.5+117

Best BetDodgers +103

Postgame

The Dodgers never led, and Lauer's good form from his last start didn't carry over the way the pick banked on. The 5-run 8th inning validated the idea that this roster can still hit, but by the time it arrived, Chicago's early lead was too much to erase — a losing pick, but a closer game than the 7-1 score through seven suggested.

Pregame

The Dodgers are live underdogs on the moneyline right now, which says more about a brutal 5-game stretch than about the actual talent gap between these two rosters. LA still owns the better overall record and gets a pitcher who was lights-out his last time out. Betting against a full-season collapse from baseball's best team, even mid-skid, is the value play here.

Lauer arrived off one of his best outings of the year, 6 shutout innings with 4 strikeouts against Seattle, while Imanaga was fresh off a tough-luck loss to the Yankees despite allowing just 2 earned runs over 6.2 innings. Los Angeles has bigger problems than one shaky rotation spot, though — Blake Snell is reportedly nearing a return from the 60-day injured list, which would be a lifeline for a staff that's already lost Tyler Glasnow, Kris Bubic and Bobby Miller for extended stretches.

Eric Lauer

(8-6)·4.79 ERA

Jul 29 vs Mariners

W

6.0IP

0ER

4K

1BB

87P

08/05 Lineup

Shota Imanaga

(8-9)·3.77 ERA

Jul 31 vs Yankees

L

6.2IP

2ER

6K

0BB

101P

08/05 Lineup

Chicago's rotation has taken its own hits, with Justin Steele, Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera all out and Clay Holmes only now working his way back for his Cubs debut. That didn't stop the Cubs from taking the first two games of this series behind two-run homers from Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly and Kevin Alcántara and a Dansby Swanson solo shot, forcing Los Angeles to try to salvage the finale as a market underdog on the moneyline.

For a while, it looked like a formality. Chicago built a 7-1 lead through seven innings and had every reason to expect a routine finish to the sweep. Then the Dodgers, who'd looked lifeless for a week, put together a 5-run 8th inning that turned a laugher into a nail-biter.

It wasn't enough. Chicago held on for the 7-6 win, extending the Dodgers' losing streak to 6 straight and completing a series sweep that started with a 10-5 blowout and continued with a 5-1 win the night before. Los Angeles racked up 14 hits and got a homer from Kyle Tucker in the loss, but a rally that arrives an inning too late is still a loss on the scoreboard.

Los Angeles Dodgers

(69-45)

Aug 5L@ Cubs1-5

Aug 4L@ Cubs5-10

Aug 2Lvs Red Sox4-8

Aug 2Lvs Red Sox2-3

Aug 1Lvs Red Sox4-9

Chicago Cubs

(65-49)

Aug 5Wvs Dodgers5-1

Aug 4Wvs Dodgers10-5

Aug 2Lvs Yankees1-2

Aug 1Wvs Yankees5-2

Jul 31Lvs Yankees0-2

Los Angeles Dodgers

(14)

• Day-To-DayFreddie Freeman (1B) — Freeman went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Red Sox.08/05
• 10-Day-ILDalton Rushing (C) — Manager Dave Roberts said Rushing (elbow) has a "very small" chance of being able to play catcher again this season, but the Dodgers are hopeful that the 25-year-old can serve as a left-handed option off the bench if he's able to return from the 10-day injured list, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.08/05
• 15-Day-ILWill Klein (RP) — The Dodgers placed Klein on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to right elbow discomfort, Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports.08/02
• 15-Day-ILBrock Stewart (RP) — MRI results on Stewart's right shoulder revealed tendinitis Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.08/01
• 15-Day-ILBlake Treinen (RP) — Treinen (elbow) will face live hitters Wednesday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.07/29
• 60-Day-ILTyler Glasnow (SP) — Glasnow (back) is expected to cover around three innings and 45 pitches in his next minor-league rehab start Sunday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.08/05
• 60-Day-ILBlake Snell (SP) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Snell (elbow) should be ready to return from the 60-day injured list and make his next start in the majors, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.08/05
• 60-Day-ILKris Bubic (SP) — The Dodgers acquired Bubic (shoulder/elbow) from the Royals on Monday in exchange for right-hander Carlos Duran, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.08/03
• 60-Day-ILBen Casparius (RP) — Casparius (shoulder) made the third appearance of his rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing one earned run on no hits and four walks while recording just one out.08/02
• 60-Day-ILWill Smith (C) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Smith (neck) will need at least 3-to-4 weeks to ramp back up to full speed, including a rehab assignment, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.08/01
• 60-Day-ILBobby Miller (SP) — Miller (shoulder/back) will resume throwing off the mound this week, Cody Snavely of DodgersBeat.com reports.06/03
• 60-Day-ILGavin Stone (SP) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Tuesday that Stone has been unable to ramp up his throwing without feeling soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder, Cody Snavely of DodgersBeat.com reports.06/03
• 60-Day-ILBrusdar Graterol (RP) — Graterol (shoulder) underwent surgery recently for a back injury he suffered while on a rehab assignment, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.06/01
• 60-Day-ILJake Cousins (RP) — The Dodgers transferred Cousins (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.05/08

Chicago Cubs

(16)

• 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — The Cubs announced Monday that Shaw recently resumed light hitting while rehabbing his sprained left hand in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/05
• 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Manager Craig Counsell announced July 8 that Martin (elbow) has resumed a throwing program at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/05
• 15-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced July 21 that Maton will rest for roughly three weeks after requiring a platelet-rich plasma injection to address right knee tendinitis, MLB.com reports.08/05
• 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (elbow) is slated to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
• 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cabrera (hamstring) is slated to make the second start of his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
• 15-Day-ILGavin Hollowell (RP) — The Cubs placed Hollowell on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.07/31
• 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Milner (abdomen) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning.07/30
• 15-Day-ILEthan Roberts (RP) — Roberts (forearm) tossed a perfect inning in a rehab appearance Sunday with Triple-A Iowa.07/20
• 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs announced Wednesday that Miler (elbow) has been throwing off a mound and facing hitters at the team's complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/05
• 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — Harvey (triceps/shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
• 60-Day-ILClay Holmes (SP) — Manager Craig Counsell said that Holmes (fibula) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his Cubs debut with a start this weekend in Kansas City, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/04
• 60-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Brown (neck) has begun to increase his activity and has taken part in workouts with plyometric balls, MLB.com reports.08/04
• 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele (elbow) will throw from flat ground and then toss 20 pitches off a mound Saturday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.07/31
• 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08

Freddie Freeman is still playing through his day-to-day designation and producing when he's out there, which will matter plenty once this slide is behind them. For now, the Dodgers head out of Chicago having been outscored across three games, and the Cubs banked a series that padded a lead they'll want to protect the rest of the summer.