Tigers vs. Cubs Live Tonight: TV Channel, Start Time & Must-Watch Highlights of the Interleague Clash

Monday night at Wrigley Field, the Detroit Tigers opened their three-game interleague set with a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs, riding a four-run first inning and two home runs from catcher Dillon Dingler. Riley Greene ignited the burst by sending Jameson Taillon’s 1-0 fastball 408 feet to right-center for a three-run shot, and Dingler followed three batters later with a 396-foot solo blast for a swift 4-0 cushion. Dingler added insurance in the eighth with his second homer of the night, giving the 25-year-old 21 long balls on the season. Chicago clawed back in the third when Seiya Suzuki answered with a two-run homer and Michael Busch lined a solo drive, both off Jack Flaherty, to trim the deficit to 4-3. Flaherty recovered to earn the win, scattering six hits across five innings and striking out four. Detroit’s bullpen—Drew Sommers, Jacob Waguespack and Kyle Finnegan—combined for four scoreless frames, with Finnegan locking down his 23rd save. Taillon absorbed the loss after yielding four runs on four hits in just three innings. The right-hander’s ERA climbed to 5.28, while the Cubs fell to 56-44, 6½ games behind Milwaukee atop the NL Central. Detroit improved to 47-53 and sits 6½ back in the AL Central wild-card chase. Key numbers • Dingler: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, the first multi-homer game of his career. • Greene: 1-for-4, 3 RBI, team-leading 16th homer. • Suzuki: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, extending his hitting streak to eight games. Why it matters “Tigers vs Cubs” regularly draws search interest whenever the clubs meet, and Monday’s offensive fireworks, combined with Chicago’s postseason implications, position the series as one of MLB’s marquee mid-week storylines. Detroit’s young core—Greene (25), Dingler (25) and Colt Keith (24)—continues to flash power that could shift the franchise’s timeline, while the Cubs must stabilize their rotation to keep pace in the NL Central. What’s next Game 2 is set for Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. CT. Detroit is expected to send rookie right-hander Casey Mize (3-4, 3.92 ERA) against Chicago lefty Jordan Wicks (4-2, 3.47 ERA). Rain remains in the forecast after a 30-minute delay pushed Monday’s first pitch, so both bullpens could be tested again. SEO keywords: Tigers vs Cubs, Detroit Tigers vs Chicago Cubs, Riley Greene home run, Dillon Dingler homers, Tigers Cubs score, Wrigley Field game recap, MLB July 2026 series.