Atlanta Braves (27-18, second in the NL East) vs. Chicago Cubs (27-22, second in the NL Central)
Chicago; Wednesday, 7:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Max Fried (3-2, 3.81 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 39 strikeouts); Cubs: Justin Steele (0-1, 5.21 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 18 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Braves -137, Cubs +116; over/under is 9 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs bring a 1-0 advantage into the next game of the series against the Atlanta Braves.
Chicago has a 15-9 record at home and a 27-22 record overall. The Cubs are 10-1 in games when they hit two or more home runs.
Atlanta is 27-18 overall and 11-10 in road games. The Braves are 20-2 in games when they out-hit their opponents.
The teams meet Wednesday for the fifth time this season. The season series is tied 2-2.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mike Tauchman has nine doubles, a triple and four home runs for the Cubs. Nico Hoerner is 7-for-35 with two doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.
Marcell Ozuna has nine doubles and 14 home runs while hitting .325 for the Braves. Matt Olson is 11-for-37 with a double and two home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 4-6, .200 batting average, 3.54 ERA, outscored by nine runs
Braves: 4-6, .237 batting average, 2.93 ERA, outscored by four runs
INJURIES: Cubs: Colten Brewer: 15-Day IL (back), Keegan Thompson: 15-Day IL (illness), Adbert Alzolay: 15-Day IL (forearm), Yency Almonte: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daniel Palencia: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jordan Wicks: 15-Day IL (forearm), Drew Smyly: 15-Day IL (hip), Julian Merryweather: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Caleb Kilian: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
Braves: Austin Riley: day-to-day (oblique), Tyler Matzek: 15-Day IL (elbow), Angel Perdomo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Spencer Strider: 15-Day IL (right elbow strain), Sean Murphy: 10-Day IL (oblique strain)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
