Both clubs enter the first of three winners in their last series as the Cubs took 2 of 3 from the hated rival Redbirds at Wrigley, while the Braves surprisingly took 3 of 4 from the Snakes in the desert.
Rich Harden will be making his sixth start of the year for Chicago since coming over from the Oakland A’s. He’s been everything Cubs’ brass could’ve wanted and more since coming over, but he’s coming off his roughest start for his new team against the Houston Astros where he got rocked for eight hits (2 HR) and five runs (four earned) in just 5 2/3rd innings of work. As a visitor, Harden’s been at his best for the Cubs going 1-1 with a stellar 1.29 ERA and 0.64 WHIP allowing just seven hits and two earned runs in 14 innings of work (2 starts). National League hitters have had their hands full facing Harden thus far as he’s accumulated an insane K/BB ratio of 47/9 in his five overall starts. He made his first career start against Atlanta earlier this season while still with Oakland limiting the Braves to just four hits and one earned run in seven innings in the A’s 5-4 road victory.
Opposing him will be Atlanta’s Charlie Morton who enters his 11th start of the season 3-5 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. His numbers on the year are by no means impressive, but he’s been a completely different pitcher in the month of August. He went toe-to-toe with the Milwaukee Brewers’ CC Sabathia throwing seven innings of two-run ball, and followed it up with a gem in the desert against the D’Backs by throwing seven innings of shutout ball in the Braves 6-4 road victory. He’ll look to continue keeping his pitches down in the strike zone when he faces the Cubs for the first time in his career.
Even though Chicago has turned it up on the road of late (winners of 5 in a row), they're still a sub .500 club as a visitor. They've also shown a knack for getting beat in Harden starts losing 2 of 5. The Braves offense certainly looked rejuvenated with a healthy Chipper and McCann back in the line-up, and the Braves have had the Cubs number at Turner winning 10 of their L/14 overall match-ups.
+150 or better is awfully tough to pass in this spot regardless of the fact that I bleed 'Cubbie Blue'. let's hope Morton has it in him to toss another gem and cash this baby!!!!
What says y'all??
Rich Harden will be making his sixth start of the year for Chicago since coming over from the Oakland A’s. He’s been everything Cubs’ brass could’ve wanted and more since coming over, but he’s coming off his roughest start for his new team against the Houston Astros where he got rocked for eight hits (2 HR) and five runs (four earned) in just 5 2/3rd innings of work. As a visitor, Harden’s been at his best for the Cubs going 1-1 with a stellar 1.29 ERA and 0.64 WHIP allowing just seven hits and two earned runs in 14 innings of work (2 starts). National League hitters have had their hands full facing Harden thus far as he’s accumulated an insane K/BB ratio of 47/9 in his five overall starts. He made his first career start against Atlanta earlier this season while still with Oakland limiting the Braves to just four hits and one earned run in seven innings in the A’s 5-4 road victory.
Opposing him will be Atlanta’s Charlie Morton who enters his 11th start of the season 3-5 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. His numbers on the year are by no means impressive, but he’s been a completely different pitcher in the month of August. He went toe-to-toe with the Milwaukee Brewers’ CC Sabathia throwing seven innings of two-run ball, and followed it up with a gem in the desert against the D’Backs by throwing seven innings of shutout ball in the Braves 6-4 road victory. He’ll look to continue keeping his pitches down in the strike zone when he faces the Cubs for the first time in his career.
Even though Chicago has turned it up on the road of late (winners of 5 in a row), they're still a sub .500 club as a visitor. They've also shown a knack for getting beat in Harden starts losing 2 of 5. The Braves offense certainly looked rejuvenated with a healthy Chipper and McCann back in the line-up, and the Braves have had the Cubs number at Turner winning 10 of their L/14 overall match-ups.
+150 or better is awfully tough to pass in this spot regardless of the fact that I bleed 'Cubbie Blue'. let's hope Morton has it in him to toss another gem and cash this baby!!!!
What says y'all??