Braves at Cubs
Role players and rookies are leading the way for the surprising Atlanta Braves, who look to continue their hot start with a second straight win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon. The Cubs hope to turn things around after dropping three of their first four home games.
The Braves used a big performance from rookie Ozzie Albies and a three-run blast by Preston Tucker to back veteran right-hander Anibal Sanchez in a 4-0 win in Friday's series opener. Albies is 15-for-39 with seven doubles and three homers in his last nine games while Tucker, thought to be a placeholder until top prospect Ronald Acuna Jr. gets the call, is batting .308 with three blasts and 12 RBIs. The offensive outages are a growing concern for Chicago, which has been shut out three times and totaled 11 runs in its seven defeats. The team will try to provide some run support for Jose Quintana, who has gone 5-0 at home since being acquired last season.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Sean Newcomb (1-1, 4.35 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (1-1, 4.50)
Newcomb was knocked around in his season debut by Washington, but he rebounded to throw six scoreless frames Sunday at Colorado. The 24-year-old struck out nine Rockies and didn’t walk a batter after issuing four free passes in his first turn. Newcomb is 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA in two career starts against the Cubs.
Quintana has gone six innings in each of his first two starts of the year, but the similarities end there. After giving up six runs in a 6-0 loss at Miami in his season debut, the 29-year-old allowed only three hits over six scoreless innings of a victory at Milwaukee on Sunday. Quintana has won both of his career starts against the Braves, allowing five runs over 11 2/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta is 8-0 when hitting at least one homer and 8-1 when scoring at least four runs.
2. Cubs 2B Javier Baez has hit four home runs in as many home games this season and is 4-for-6 with a blast versus Newcomb.
3. The Cubs have allowed a three-run homer in four straight contests after going 22 without surrendering such a shot.