Will Cubs sputter against Teheran, Braves?
Chicago couldn’t get its vaunted offense in gear in Friday’s series opener against Atlanta – until an unexpected source stepped forward with a major clout.
Backup outfielder Matt Szczur’s eighth-inning grand slam ultimately lifted the Cubs to a 6-1 win, the team’s seventh in a row. Wrigley Field’s finest return to the yard this afternoon, with a 2:20 p.m. ET first pitch. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI list the host club as a 1.5-run favorite. The over/under, meanwhile, rests at seven runs.
Joe Maddon’s supporting cast now gets an opportunity to shine in light of injuries to stars such as Kris Bryant (ankle) and Kyle Schwarber (torn ACL and LCL). In addition to Szczur’s exploits last night, Javier Baez doubled and scored in place of Bryant. Tommy La Stella collected a pinch-hit, too, improving to 6 for 9 with a homer and four doubles in his past five contests.
Another key role player, catcher David Ross, is likely to collaborate with pitcher John Lackey (3-1, 4.97 ERA) in a few hours. Lackey last took the mound one week ago in an ugly affair vs. Cincinnati. The veteran righty served up six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 13-5 defeat.
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Where the Cubs haven’t lost since then, the Braves are accustomed to floundering. Fredi Gonzalez’s squad holds the worst record in the majors at 5-18 and rarely gives starter Julio Teheran (0-3, 4.60) any form of support. Atlanta’s ace comes off an outing, though, in which he limited Boston to one run over seven frames.
We fully understand that the visiting organization’s been outscored 44-16 in the last seven with Chicago. Teheran’s hill presence could result in the North Siders’ second straight (largely) languid showing with the lumber, though. Ugly weather conditions also ensure that balls won’t be flying onto Waveland Avenue with regularity.
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