Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Braves (6:35 CT) – Lineup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

The Cubs will finish drafting just before tonight’s matchup with the Braves, but I don’t think any of those college pitchers they took will be ready by game time.

Maybe this weekend.

The Cubs (41-17) are squaring up against an Atlanta Braves (17-42) team that are almost as bad as the Cubs are good (in terms of won-loss record, at least).

And they’ll do so behind Jason Hammel, who was very good his last time out (7.0 IP, 2ER, 1H, 2BB, 6Ks). That outing was extremely encouraging for a couple of reasons. First, Hammel’s peripherals (3.41 FIP, 4.22 xFIP) indicate some negative regression lies in his future, but second: that game came just one start after he was removed with a hamstring issue after lasting just 2.0 innings against the Dodgers. Hammel has been pretty good this year, so keeping him healthy will be crucial to the Cubs second half success.

Opposing Hammel is righty Bud Norris. Remember when Norris was decent with the Astros? That was a while ago.

Game Info

Atlanta Braves (17-42) at Chicago Cubs (41-17), 6:35 CT on CSN, 670 The Score.

Game Thread and Series Preview

Your game thread is down there in the comments, so have fun. But keep it “safe for work” type fun, all right?

The Series Preview lives here. The Lineup Discussion lives here.

Starting Pitchers

Cubs: Jason Hammel (R): 2.14 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 4.22 xFIP; 2.33 K/BB

versus

Braves: Bud Norris (R): 5.28 ERA, 5.08 FIP, 4.95 xFIP; 1.38 K/BB

Atlanta Braves Lineup:

1. Ender Inciarte, CF

2. Chase d’Arnaud, SS

3. Freddie Freeman, 1B

4. Nick Markakis, RF

5. Adonis Garcia, 3B

6. Tyler Flower, C

7. Jace Peterson, 2B

8. Bud Norris, P

9. Mallex Smith, LF

Chicago Cubs Lineup:

1. Dexter Fowler, CF

2. Jason Heyward, RF

3. Kris Bryant, 3B

4. Ben Zobrist, 2B

5. Miguel Montero, C

6. Javy Baez, 1B

7. Addison Russell, SS

8. Albert Almora, LF

9. Jason Hammel, P