Friday’s game: Braves vs. Cubs

Where: Turner Field

When: 7:35 p.m.

TV; radio: FSSO; 680, 93.7, 106.7

Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Julio Teheran (6-4, 4.56 ERA) vs. RH Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.55)

What's new: The Braves open the second half seven games behind the Nationals in third place in the NL East. After playing three straight series against division cellar-dwellers to close out the first half, the Braves open the second half with three straight series against contenders, starting with the Cubs, followed by the division-leaders Dodgers and Cardinals. The Braves needed a four-day all-star refresh after scoring just 11 runs in four straight losses in the hitter-friendly confines at Coors Field. Now Braves are tasked with trying to score the first run off Hendricks since the third inning of his June 24 start against the Dodgers. Hendricks has pitched 22 1/3 scoreless innings since the Dodgers' Justin Turner hit a three-run homer off him three weeks ago.

- Carroll Rogers Walton