NEWSLETTER
After scoring a combined 47 runs in their past five games (that’s nearly ten runs per game!), the Cubs run differential (+90) is now 8th best in baseball and just three runs behind the Boston Red Sox (+93) for the season.
Cooler than that, this:
The Cubs (5.07) have scored more runs per game this season than the Dodgers (5.00).
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) August 31, 2017
Of course, the Dodgers are the league leaders in runs allowed per game (3.35), while the Cubs rank 9th (4.39), and – apparently – that’s the difference between 91 wins on August 31 and 72 wins. Shrug.
Tonight, the Cubs will look to pad that run differential with their first of four games against the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs have Kyle Hendricks working tonight, who’s been quite great lately, while improving his velocity and command. And the Braves are throwing the lefty, Sean Newcomb.
As Brett explored earlier, that means the lineup is loaded with righties tonight, and those righties would be wise to be patient (14.8 BB% against right-handed hitters).
Let’s see if the Cubs can turn this three-game winning streak into a four-gamer.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (72-60) at Atlanta Braves (59-72) – 7:05 CT on CSN-C, 670 The Score
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (R): 3.45 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 4.01 xFIP; 2.78 K/BB
versus
Braves: Sean Newcomb (L): 4.36 ERA, 4.85 FIP, 4.82 xFIP; 1.73 K/BB
Atlanta Braves:
- Ender Inciarte, CF
- Brandon Phillips, 3B
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Matt Kemp, LF
- Nick Markakis, RF
- Kurt Suzuki, C
- Ozzie Albies, 2B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Sean Newcomb, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Jon Jay, LF
- Ben Zobrist, 2B
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Albert Almora, CF
- Javy Baez, SS
- Ian Happ, RF
- Rene Rivera, C
- Kyle Hendricks, P
