3 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, including Shota Imanaga’s sweeper

In corresponding moves, left-hander Charlie Barnes and right-hander Yacksel Ríos were called up from Triple-A Iowa and right-hander Vince Velasquez, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in Saturday’s loss, was designated for assignment to open a 40-man spot for Ríos. The Cubs now have six relievers and 12 players from their 40-man roster on the IL.

“The next guy’s got to do his job, that’s kind of where we’re at with this,” Counsell said Sunday. “We’ve had a number of guys get opportunities, we’ve got guys coming back soon, and so that’s a good thing. But again, the injuries have an effect eventually.”

Veteran right-hander Phil Maton will be activated from the IL during the Cubs’ upcoming series in San Diego. Right-hander Ethan Roberts (laceration on right middle finger) is also nearing a return. He made a rehab appearance at Triple A on Saturday and will make one more outing with Iowa before rejoining the team. Daniel Palencia (left lat strain) has a big bullpen session on Tuesday in San Diego, which will determine his next steps and how close their closer is to coming back.

“We’re dealing with a real challenge from a bullpen standpoint, and I’ll give guys credit, we’ve had a lot of unexpected performances out of guys that have really helped,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Saturday. “But we do need to stabilize and get healthy.

“We’ve put Iowa in a tough spot a lot because we’re just constantly getting arms from them, and I feel badly about that, but that’s what has to happen and we’ve had some tough breaks.”

2. Struggles with runners in scoring position hurt comeback attempts.

In both of the Cubs’ losses to the Dodgers, they had opportunities to cut into the deficit by putting runners on base but failed to cash in.

The Cubs went 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position Saturday and Sunday while leaving 19 on base. Their best chances Sunday came in the first two innings when the Cubs had runners on. But both times, Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski recovered from falling behind 3-0 to Seiya Suzuki and Nico Hoerner, respectively, to strike them out in the first and second innings.

Hoerner’s sequence was especially tough. The Cubs loaded the bases and had their best contact hitter up with one out. Hoerner thought he had drawn a run-scoring walk, challenging the 3-1 pitch, but the Automated Ball-Strike System showed Wrobleski’s fastball just touched the up-and-away corner. He followed with a fastball up and out of the zone and got Hoerner to chase for the strikeout.

“Those were our big opportunities, you need to kind of reverse one of those situations and we get runs on the board,” Counsell said.

The Cubs’ approach has largely been solid this season, often yielding plenty of run-scoring chances on a daily basis. Through Sunday’s game, the Cubs’ 337 plate appearances with RISP lead MLB. More often than not, it should result in runs despite falling short Saturday and Sunday.

“We just didn’t execute and come through in those moments and that’s what this team does, is we come through in those moments and today was a day we just didn’t,” catcher Carson Kelly said. “We just continue to have good at-bats and continue to put pressure on defenses and the pitching staff.”

3. A patient lineup tests the Cubs.

Imanaga and right-handers Colin Rea and Javier Assad are known for their command around the strike zone.

They don’t possess the most elite pure stuff, but their success often comes from limiting walks and getting soft contact hit into an elite Cubs defense. The Dodgers, though, tested the trio over the weekend. They didn’t chase out of the zone much, forcing them to stay more in the zone. And when they made a mistake, too often they were punished for it or got runners on via a walk.

“You can’t walk people, you can’t give them free bases, you just have to make them hit their way on,” Counsell said. “But they also make you throw quality pitches. And in the first (Imanaga) just didn’t quite have enough quality pitches, that leads to two walks and then a couple hits, and you’re playing from a hole.”

The Cubs’ pitching staff has collectively been good at limiting walks this season, and their 8.3% walk rate is tied for fifth best in the majors. A patient Dodgers lineup challenged them, however.