MLB TV Game of the Week
Chicago Cubs (0-2) at Atlanta Braves (2-0)
7:10 pm EST on MLB TV
Starting Pitchers
Chicago: Wells (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Atlanta: T. Hanson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
The Chicago Cubs will look to salvage one win out a three-game series avoiding the sweep against National League foe the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on Thursday night.
Atlanta opened the series on Monday pounding the Cubbies 16-5 behind Jason Heyward’s 3-run homer in his first major league at-bat. It looked like looked the Cubs were going to even the series in game two leading 2-1 when veteran third baseman Chipper Jones tattooed a 2-run blast lifting the Braves past Chicago in the eighth. Billy Wagner recorded his first save after undergoing left elbow surgery in 2008, and held off the Cubs 3-2.
The Braves’ bullpen is off to a strong start, allowing four hits in seven scoreless innings and will look to continue their dominance when top pitching prospect right-hander Tommy Hanson makes his season debut on the mound tonight. The 23-year-old Hanson was called up last June, and went 5-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his first eight starts before finishing the season with an 11-4 record, a 2.89 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 21 games. He is 7-2 with a 3.13 ERA in 11 appearances at home.
Unlike the Braves, the Cubs’ bullpen is struggling early on, getting tagged for 10 runs and six walks in 8 2/3 innings. RHP Randy Wells will get a chance to help his team reverse the earlier disasters when he gets his first start of the season in Thursday night’s contest. After being recalled from the minors in May of last year, Wells put on a solid performance going 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA in 27 starts The rookie was nearly unbeatable in nine starts, going 8-1 with a 2.85 ERA. He is 1-1 lifetime against the Braves, including a 4-2 win and a 6-5 loss at Atlanta.
The odds makers have the Braves as –1 ½ -point favorites with a game total of 8 runs.
Since the Braves face another right-handed starter in game three, the lineup is unlikely to change. Whereas we may see Chicago manager Lou Piniella begin working other players into the lineup, to help pull the Cubbies out of their slump. Outfield Tyler Covin who made the club out of spring training by hitting .468, will likely start in tonight’s game bringing some much-needed power to the middle of the order. The current line up has been miserable including hitting into three double plays, making it five in two games.
I expect the Braves to complete the sweep in a tight series finale and the UNDER
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