Scheduled First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. CT
Venue: Wrigley Field — Chicago, Illinois
Weather Forecast (Wrigley Field)
Conditions: Mostly sunny early, cooling into the evening
Temperature: 81°F at first pitch
Wind: 10–14 mph blowing out to left field
Humidity: 54%
Impact: Very hitter‑friendly; fly balls to left may carry unusually well
Team Form & Context
Los Angeles Dodgers (69–43)
The Dodgers enter Chicago with the best record in the National League and winners of eight of their last eleven. Their offense has surged behind Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith, while their rotation continues to stabilize despite injuries. Justin Wrobleski has emerged as a reliable mid‑rotation arm, giving Los Angeles competitive innings with strong command and a deceptive fastball. The Dodgers’ bullpen has been excellent since July, ranking top‑five in MLB in ERA and strikeout rate.
Chicago Cubs (63–49)
Chicago remains firmly in the NL Wild Card race and has won six of their last nine, powered by Cody Bellinger’s resurgence, Seiya Suzuki’s consistency, and Pete Crow‑Armstrong’s elite defense. Riley Boyd has been a pleasant surprise in the rotation, giving the Cubs quality innings with a strong fastball/slider combination. The Cubs have been excellent at home (34–21), and Wrigley’s conditions tonight favor their power bats.
Probable Pitchers Breakdown
Los Angeles — LHP Justin Wrobleski
2026 Season: 6–4, 3.58 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
Last 5 Starts: 3–1, 3.11 ERA
Strengths: Deceptive fastball, strong changeup, good strikeout ability
Weaknesses: Occasional command lapses; vulnerable to right‑handed power
Cubs Matchup Notes: Bellinger and Suzuki match up well vs. his fastball/changeup mix
Chicago — RHP Riley Boyd
2026 Season: 7–5, 3.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
Last 5 Starts: 2–2, 3.44 ERA
Strengths: High‑spin fastball, sharp slider, strong home splits
Weaknesses: Can be hit early in counts; struggles vs. left‑handed power
Dodgers Matchup Notes: Freeman and Ohtani profile extremely well vs. Boyd’s pitch mix
Injury Reports
Los Angeles Dodgers
SP Walker Buehler — 15‑day IL (forearm)
RP Blake Treinen — 10‑day IL (shoulder)
OF Andy Pages — Day‑to‑day (hamstring)
INF Max Muncy — 10‑day IL (oblique)
Chicago Cubs
SP Justin Steele — 15‑day IL (lat strain)
RP Adbert Alzolay — 15‑day IL (elbow)
C Miguel Amaya — Day‑to‑day (hand)
OF Ian Happ — Day‑to‑day (ankle)
Key Player Matchups
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) vs. Riley Boyd
Ohtani is hitting .312 vs. RHP with elite hard‑hit metrics
Boyd’s elevated fastball is vulnerable to Ohtani’s upper‑zone power
Expect multiple high‑impact plate appearances
Cody Bellinger (CHC) vs. Justin Wrobleski
Bellinger has a .298 average vs. LHP this season
Wrobleski’s changeup must be sharp; Bellinger crushes elevated fastballs
Key matchup for Chicago’s run production
Freddie Freeman (LAD) vs. Cubs Bullpen
Freeman has a .927 OPS in late‑inning situations
Cubs bullpen has a 4.71 ERA since July
Major advantage for Los Angeles in high‑leverage spots
Seiya Suzuki (CHC) vs. Wrobleski
Suzuki’s contact skills challenge Wrobleski’s pitch‑to‑contact tendencies
If Suzuki reaches base consistently, Chicago’s offense becomes more dynamic
Series History
2026 Season Series: Dodgers lead 2–1
2025 Season Series: Dodgers won 4–2
Last 10 Meetings: Dodgers lead 6–4
At Wrigley Field (last 10): Even split, 5–5
These teams have played tight, competitive baseball over the past two seasons.
Recent Team Trends
Los Angeles
Last 10 Games: 7–3
Road Record: 32–24
Runs per Game (last 10): 5.8
Bullpen ERA (last 15): 3.12
Trend: Offense surging; pitching stable
Chicago
Last 10 Games: 6–4
Home Record: 34–21
Runs per Game (last 10): 5.1
Bullpen ERA (last 15): 4.71
Trend: Offense strong; bullpen inconsistent
Betting Trends
Los Angeles
Dodgers are 8–3 SU in their last 11
OVER has hit in 6 of their last 9
Wrobleski starts have gone UNDER in 7 of his last 12
Chicago
Cubs are 7–3 SU in their last 10 home games
OVER has hit in 7 of their last 10
Boyd starts have gone OVER in 8 of his last 13
Preview Summary
Los Angeles enters Monday’s matchup with momentum and a lineup that has been one of MLB’s most dangerous over the past month. Justin Wrobleski’s command will be critical against a Cubs lineup that thrives at home, especially with wind blowing out. Riley Boyd faces a difficult assignment against a Dodgers offense stacked with left‑handed power and elite plate discipline.
Game Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers – 120
Chicago Cubs 8
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, August 2, 2026
