Atlanta Braves face the Chicago Cubs: we preview the game and the series
By Jeff Schafer
Braves take on the 2016 World Series Champs, the Chicago Cubs
It’s the Chicago Cubs vs the Atlanta Braves series that we’ve all been waiting on!! Why’s that?? Well, because it’s supposed to be the arrival of Braves top prospect Ronald Acúna Jr, but that may not be happening this weekend. What’s worst then a top prospect not debuting when we all want him to and facing a very good/solid Cubs team? A threat of rain…
Yup…the Chicago area is calling for rain pretty much all this weekend. Starting today, Friday, actually. My radar app shows an 80% chance of rain both Friday and Saturday and 40% chance on Sunday. The storm is supposed to arrive in Wrigley’s area around 3pm this afternoon.
That puts a big brown spot on the party, doesn’t it? Not only do we have the chance for ball games to be postponed, but we’ll also most likely not see Acúna in a Braves uniform this weekend.
Now, it sounds like it’s not just because of the storm that’s rolling through — it may play a part — but it’s also how he’s started the year off in Triple-A. So far through six games with the Gwinnett Stripers, Acúna is 3-25 at the plate with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Come on though, Triple-A stats mean about as much as Spring Training stats when you’ve got a caliber player like Acúna, right?
That’s for the Braves front office to decide. My guess though, they want to see him have a few good games in a row before calling him up. I’m thinking Acúna will have three great games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Gwinnett and the Braves give him the ol’ ringy-dingy for Monday’s home game at SunTrust Park.
In any case, we know we won’t see Acúna on Friday. It’s still one day early.
So let’s take a look at the pitching matchups for Friday’s game.
The Braves are set to take on Yu Darvish for the first time…ever! The six-year veteran japanese pitcher has never taken on the mighty Braves.
Kurt Suzuki and Ryan Flaherty are the only two in the Braves lineup that’s seen Darvish. Suzuki’s gone 0-5 against this with one strikeout. Flaherty has gone 1-3 with a single and a strikeout.
The Braves will send out Aníbal Sánchez to the mound in game one. He’s pitched at Wrigley Field four times, has a 5.04 ERA, has given up 25 hits and five home runs. Please keep us in the game, Sánchez, like you did in your first Braves outing!
Braves starting lineup
- Ender Inciarte CF
- Ozzie Albies 2B
- Freddie Freeman 1B
- Nick Markakis RF
- Kurt Suzuki C
- Dansby Swanson SS
- Preston Tucker LF
- Ryan Flaherty 3B
- Aníbal Sánchez P
Cubs starting lineup
- Albert Almora Jr CF
- Tommy La Stella 3B
- Kris Bryant 1B
- Willson Contreras C
- Kyle Schwarber LF
- Addison Russell SS
- Javier Baez 2B
- Jason Heyward RF
- Yu Darvish P
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Anthony Rizzo is currently on the DL with a back issue.
If somehow this storm turns and goes the opposite direction of the ball park, we’ll play all three games. Let’s hope that’s the case. If so, here are the projected starters for games two and three.
Saturday – LHP Sean Newcomb vs. LHP Jose Quintana
Sunday – RHP Julio Teheran vs. RHP Tyler Chatwood