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Dodgers Notes: LA Cuts Ties With Veteran, Tarik Skubal Sends Message, Will Smith Return Timeline

Catch up on all the latest Dodgers news and notes.
Gabe Smallson|
Jul 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) watches a game from the dugout during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Jul 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) watches a game from the dugout during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Chicago Cubs, 5-1, on Tuesday evening and fell to 69-55 on the year in their fifth straight loss.

Reigning back-to-back Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal made his Dodgers debut and struck out six across six innings of work. Alex Vesia allowed two earned runs and recorded as many outs while Evan Phillips finished out the seventh inning. Edwin Díaz allowed a home run in the eighth and only recorded two outs, leaving Jack Dreyer to finish things out.

Offensively — and there isn't much to report — former Cub Kyle Tucker launched a solo home run in the top of the second inning.

Ahead of the eventual defeat, the Dodgers cut ties with a veteran catcher to make way for a pair of catchers added at the trade deadline. The backstops in question — Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia — were both in a Dodgers uniform last season (with Feduccia being included in a deal to land Rortvedt at last year's deadline), but now join forces at a time when catching depth in LA has never been worse.

The reason that catching depth has never been more shallow is not only the recent injured list addition of Dalton Rushing, but All-Star Will Smith having been out since early June. There is finally a return timeline for Smith, according to manager Dave Roberts, but not as concrete as fans may like.

“This is something that’s uncharted territory, for him certainly. We’re sort of back at square one. I just don’t know how long that ramp up will take," Roberts said.

Finally, ahead of his Dodgers debut on Tuesday, Skubal sent a message to the fanbase of the defending champions via his Instagram account.

"LA, Excited to be here! Look forward to competing with my teammates and giving the city everything I’ve got," Skubal wrote. "See y’all soon!

Here’s all the latest Dodgers news and stories (click the headline for the full article):

Dodgers Cut Ties With Catcher, Officially Activate Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia

Dodgers Finally Announce Return Timeline for Will Smith, Who's 'Back at Square One'

Tarik Skubal Sends Message to Dodgers Fans Ahead of Debut

Rival Executive Has Lame Reaction to Dodgers' Tarik Skubal Trade

Dodgers' Tyler Glasnow Takes First Big Step Toward Return, Timeline Becoming Clearer

Dodgers Lineup vs Cubs: Tarik Skubal and Ben Rortvedt Starting

Dodgers Tweets of the Day

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Gabe Smallson
GABE SMALLSON

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