Braves Host Cubs in Key Matchup with Chicago Struggling on Road

Baseball draws fans to big matchups, and tonight's game between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves fits the bill. The Cubs sit at 27-14 overall but struggle on the road. They stand 9-9 away from Wrigley Field, where they have scored 91 runs while hitting .238. At home, they have tallied 124 runs and hit .263. Road runs make up just 41% of their total. They lost their latest series to the Rangers and got shut out in the final two games.

Chicago needs to spark its offense and contain Atlanta's bats. Starter Colin Rea carries a 4-1 record, 4.03 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. His road numbers lag: in two starts and four appearances, he has allowed 11 earned runs over 17.2 innings. A rough outing against the Dodgers accounts for much of that, as he lasted 3.1 innings while giving up six hits, four walks and six runs. Atlanta hitters bat .286 against Rea, led by Matt Olson's 4-for-8 mark with three extra-base hits.

The Braves have staged a strong recovery after last season's injury-plagued campaign. They hold a 28-13 record, going 12-6 at home while hitting .270 overall and .282 in Truist Park. Their pitchers post a 3.14 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

Grant Holmes takes the mound for Atlanta. He is 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. His home ERA sits at 5.40 across three starts, though he has allowed no more than three earned runs in any of them. Cubs hitters have gone 3-for-7 against him.