Saturday’s game: Braves vs. Cubs

Probable starting pitchers: Braves LH Manny Banuelos (1-0, 0.75) vs. LH Jon Lester (4-8, 3.59)

What's new: Banuelos makes his first start since July 7, when he collected his first major league win by allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win in Milwaukee. Entering this series, the Braves' hottest hitter in the month of July was catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who was hitting .361 (13-for-36) for the month, with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs. Cameron Maybin was right there with him, batting .333 (15-for-45), with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and eight RBIs. On the other end of the spectrum is the Braves' middle infield. Second baseman Jace Peterson was batting only .163 (7-for-43) with one double and two RBIs in July, and Andrelton Simmons was batting .128 (5-for-39) with no extra-base hits and one RBI for the month.

— Carroll Rogers Walton