The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a large target on their back for quite some time and they found a way to increase it year over year the past couple of seasons.
The Chicago Cubs were their first opponent coming out of the trade deadline the acquisition of Tarik Skubal. The Cubs currently occupy the first National League Wild-Card spot, which would give them their second consecutive playoff berth if they can hold on to it.
There is a good chance of a trip to the World Series going through the Dodgers, and it just got much more difficult now with Skubal in the fold. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer praised the Dodgers organization’s trade deadline and didn’t subscribe to their villain perception.
“The Dodgers have done a fantastic job in player development. They have a really good farm system. Scott did the best thing he could do for the Tigers, and got a lot of talent back,” he said on Marquee Sports Network.
“He’s an incredible pitcher, there’s no question about that. I know there’s been a reaction around baseball about it, but they put themselves in position to do that deal, and they did. That’s exactly what they should be doing.”
Hoyer followed that up by saying the Cubs will not be deterred by the daunting challenge in font of them.
“That’s the team you’ve got to beat, right? Clearly, they’re going to be the favorites,” he began. “They’ve won two times in a row. They’ve got the most talent in baseball, I don’t think there’s any question about that. It’s a great challenge for everybody. Going back-to-back is an incredible accomplishment and I totally respect the fact they really pushed in to do it three times in a. row. What an amazing thing to try to accomplish.
“It’s our job and everyone else’s job to make that not happen. They’re a really good team, and the pressure is on us. We’ve had a good stretch so far, but they’re in a good position. So we’ve got to play really well to track them down. It’s a great goal to try to do it.”
The Cubs backed up Hoyer’s statements on the field by sweeping the Dodgers at home and extending L.A.’s losing streak to a season-high six games. That included spoiling Skubal’s Dodgers debut on Tuesday.
The series sweep contributed Chicago to now being within 4.5 games of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ losing streak is now up to seven games and they were overtaken by the Atlanta Braves for the second seed in the NL.
Kyle Tucker trolled after Cubs sweep
The series between the Dodgers and the Cubs also represented Kyle Tucker’s first time back at Wrigley Field since leaving the team in free agency.
After the Cubs finished off their series sweep, The Wieners Circle, a famed hotdog stand in Chicago, shared a photo of the marquee that hangs outside their location at 2622 N. Clark Street, which took aim at Tucker.
“Swept those Mothertuckers back to LA LA Land,” the marquee read.
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