Series preview: vs. Chicago Cubs
When (TV): 7:35 p.m. Friday (FSSO), 7:10 p.m. Saturday (FSSO), 1:35 p.m. Sunday (FSSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Friday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (2-2, 1.80 ERA) vs. RH Jason Hammel (4-1, 2.43 ERA)
Saturday: Braves RH Ervin Santana (3-0, 2.41) vs. RH Jeff Samardzija (0-3, 1.62)
Saturday: Braves LH Alex Wood (2-5, 3.00) vs. RH Edwin Jackson (2-2, 5.24)
About the Braves:
Batting: The Braves have scored two or fewer runs in six of their past nine games. While losing eight of those nine, they have hit 9-for-68 (.132) with runners in scoring position. Freddie Freeman is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with three doubles and two RBIs on this six-game homestand. This is after hitting only .135 (5-for-37) with one home run and three RBIs in his previous nine games, including an 0-for-24 stretch with nine strikeouts against the Marlins.
Pitching: The Braves had won five consecutive Teheran starts until he took a 3-1 loss to the Giants on Saturday. He allowed only three earned runs in seven innings in that game, striking out seven and walking none, but was another victim of the Braves' hapless offense. Teheran dominated the Cubs the last time he faced them in the 5-2 win that clinched the NL East for the Braves on Sept. 22 at Wrigley Field. He held the Cubs to one run in seven innings while striking out seven.
Miscellaneous: Closer Craig Kimbrel has pitched twice in the past 11 days while the Braves have lost eight of nine games. He is seven saves shy of breaking John Smoltz's franchise record for career saves (154). Santana returns to the rotation after skipping a start to nurse a sore right thumb.
About the Cubs:
Batting: The Cubs rank 27th in the majors in runs scored (117), but are ahead of the 29th-ranked Braves (105). The Cubs managed only four hits in each of the first three games against the White Sox, all losses. Anthony Rizzo hit safely in six consecutive games until Wednesday, while going 7-for-19 (.368) with three homers and six RBIs. For the season, Rizzo (.281), Emilio Bonifacio (.306) and Starlin Castro (.283) were the only Cubs batters hitting higher than .250.
Pitching: Hammel has quality starts in each of his first six games with the Cubs. The Greenville, S.C., native is 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA in six career starts against the Braves. But in his last start against them, while with the Orioles, he pitched a complete game one-hit shutout, allowing only a Jason Heyward single June 16, 2012. That night was more memorable for Braves fans because it also was the night Brandon Beachy blew out his elbow for the first time.
Miscellaneous: Entering Thursday night, the Cubs had lost four in a row, including three to their crosstown rival White Sox. Former Brave Eric Hinske coaches first base for the Cubs.
