The Dodgers make the trip to Wrigley Field to take on the Cubs on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET. Here’s everything you need — start time, where to watch by country, how both teams are positioned, and who’s taking the mound.
Game Info
- Matchup: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
- League: MLB
- Date: August 5, 2026
- First Pitch: 2:20 p.m. ET / 12:20 p.m. Mexico City / 2:20 p.m. Caracas / 2:20 p.m. Santo Domingo
- Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago
Where to Watch
🇲🇽 Mexico — 12:20 p.m.
- Canal 5 — 55 regular-season games; part of the 2026–2028 broadcast deal
- NU9VE (Canal 9) — Sunday game of the week
- ESPN — Approximately 6 games per week
- TUDN
- Canal FOX — 5-game weekly package: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and two Saturdays
- Disney+ — 6 additional games per week + ESPN simulcast
🇻🇪 Venezuela — 2:20 p.m.
- Televén (free) — Primarily weekends; free streaming on its mobile app
- 1BASEBALL — 24-hour baseball channel, up to 3 games per day. Available via Simple, Inter, and NetUno GO
- ByM Sport — 6 days a week, via Inter and Simple
- IVC — Tuesday through Sunday
- ESPN — Live and replays
- Disney+
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic — 2:20 p.m.
- Teleantillas Canal 10 (free) — 7 games per week, one per day, free of charge. Now in its seventh consecutive year. Coverage runs from Opening Day through the full World Series, including the Futures Game, Home Run Derby, All-Star Game, and all postseason rounds
- ESPN
- 1BASEBALL — Via Altice
- FOX / FS1 / FS2 / FOX Deportes
- teleantillas.com.do (free)
- MLB.TV
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico — 2:20 p.m.
- WAPA Deportes (free) — Regular season (typically Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Exclusive island broadcast of the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby
- MLB.TV
🇺🇸 United States (Spanish-language) — 2:20 p.m. ET
- Telemundo — Presented Opening Day coverage
- UniMás / TUDN — MLB En Vivo (Tuesdays, 9 p.m. ET) and MLB Esta Semana (Saturdays, 3 p.m. ET)
- Universo — Sunday Night Baseball in Spanish; 25 featured games in 2026 via Telemundo Deportes
- FOX Deportes — Regular season plus Spanish simulcast of the FOX postseason: Division Series, Championship Series, and World Series
- ESPN Deportes — ESPN retained Spanish-language rights for its 30-game linear package
- Peacock — Sunday Night Baseball in Spanish
Local Broadcasts
- Los Angeles Dodgers: SportsNet LA · direct streaming on SNLA+ · available without local blackout inside the MLB app
- Chicago Cubs: Marquee Sports Network · direct streaming on the Marquee app
A Note on MLB.TV
MLB.TV remains an out-of-market product. For 22 of the 30 clubs, there is a separate in-market local subscription sold inside the MLB app (~$19.99/month or ~$99.99/season) that is free of local blackouts. Games exclusive to national broadcast partners (Netflix, NBC/Peacock, Apple TV, FOX, ESPN) are not included in MLB.TV — that’s not a blackout, they simply aren’t part of the package. MLB has not published a public blackout map for Latin American countries, so availability may vary.
How Both Teams Are Sitting
- Los Angeles Dodgers: 69-45 (.605)
- Chicago Cubs: 65-49 (.570)
Starting Pitchers
- Dodgers — Eric Lauer (LHP): 6-5, 4.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 56 strikeouts in 88.0 innings
- Cubs — Shota Imanaga (LHP): 7-9, 3.67 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 119 strikeouts in 127.2 innings
Keys to the Game
The Dodgers arrive at Wrigley Field at 69-45, looking to protect their division lead. The Cubs, four games back at 65-49, need this win to keep the pressure on. Every game counts at this point in the season.
On the mound, Shota Imanaga holds a clear edge in command — his 1.07 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 127.2 innings compare favorably to Lauer’s 1.19 WHIP and 56 punchouts in 88.0 frames. Lauer’s 4.50 ERA versus Imanaga’s 3.67 tells a similar story. The Cubs’ left-hander will need to be sharp if Chicago wants to close the gap.
This article will be updated after the final out with the result, key plays, and video highlights.
