The Chicago Cubs will open a series on the road Monday against the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs fell to 1-1 on the season following an 8-6 loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday. Cubs’ starter Yu Darvish walked seven batters in 2 2/3 innings for the shortest outing of his MLB career. Nevertheless, the Cubs led in the eighth but the bullpen served up a three-run homer to the Rangers and the Cubs could not respond in the ninth.
Atlanta dropped to 0-2 on the season following its 8-6 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. The Braves pitching staff has allowed 18 runs over the first two games of the season. Charlie Culberson and Dansby Swanson each homered for the Braves in the loss, while Freddie Freeman banged out four hits and knocked in two runs. Kyle Schwarber leads Chicago with a .500 batting average. Javier Baez is the home run leader with two and RBIs leader with five. Chicago is averaging .310 at the plate, while opposing hitters are averaging .266. On Monday, the Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the mound. The right-hander last season was 14-11 with an ERA of 3.44, 161 Ks and 44 BBs.
Freddie Freeman is leading Atlanta with a .625 batting average. Matt Joyce is tied with two others in home runs with one, while Joyce and two others lead the Braves in RBIs with two. Atlanta is averaging .258 at the plate, while opposing batters are averaging the same .258. On Monday, the Braves will send Sean Newcomb to the mound. Last season, Newcomb was 12-9 with an ERA of 3.90, 160 Ks and 81 BBs.
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Braves pitching is being rocked. Atlanta has allowed a whopping 18 runs over its first two games. Chicago has won 7 of the last 8 in Atlanta and 18 of the last 25 overall against the Braves. The Cubs have won 6 of Kyle Hendricks last 7 starts and each of the right-hander’s last 4 starts on the road. Final Score Prediction, Chicago Cubs win 7-3.
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