Braves' opponent: Chicago Cubs
Keep an eye on: The wild card standings. The Cubs were eight games behind in the Cardinals in third place in the NL Central entering Wednesday but three games ahead of the Giants for the second NL wild card spot. The Cubs are gunning for their first playoff appearance since 2008. The Cubs saw a nine-game winning streak – their longest since 2008 - come to an end with back-to-back losses to the White Sox and Tigers.
Who's hot: Atlanta native Dexter Fowler was 10-for-22 (.455) over his past six games entering Wednesday with four doubles, a triple, a home run, six walks, seven runs and three RBIs.
Who's not: Left fielder Chris Denorfia was 1-for-13 (.077) in the past six games.
Braves connection: Former Brave Tommy La Stella is hitting .222 at Triple-A Iowa, where the Cubs wanted him playing every day after time missed this season with an oblique strain. Former Brave Rafael Soriano is just beginning a minor league rehabilitation assignment, working his way back from a DL stint for shoulder inflammation. He pitched in only six games after the Cubs signed him as a free agent in June.
In the news: Former Brave Trevor Cahill reportedly signed a minor league deal with the Cubs. The Braves released him June 1 after he went 0-3 with a 7.52 ERA in 15 games (three starts). He had recently been with the Dodgers, going 1-3 with a 6.28 ERA in six starts in Triple-A.
