"The good news for the Braves is that this is a Chris Sale start and if he performs at the level that everybody associated with the Braves has come to expect then Atlanta will actually have a very good chance at winning this one. Sale has hit the ground running since returning from injury - he's pitched 12.2 innings over two starts and given up seven hits, one walk, two runs (one on a solo home run) and 18 strikeouts. Folks, he's been out there dealing."
"He also did this against a Mariners lineup that has produced a team wRC+ of 111 and a Phillies lineup that has been hitting at a clip of 108 wRC+ so far this season, so it's totally feasible that Sale will be able to perform at the same high level against a Cubs lineup that has been hitting at a rate of 108 wRC+, himself."
"Speaking of hitting the ground running after returning from injury, the Cubs will be hoping that Jameson Taillon will do the same thing as he returns from the 15-Day IL after suffering a groin injury in August. Taillon was actually on a pretty solid run of a pair of starts after a calf injury had him go on the IL for the entirety of July."
Atlanta hosts the decisive game in Cobb County with Chris Sale on the mound against the Chicago Cubs. Sale has thrown 12.2 innings over two starts since returning from injury, allowing seven hits, one walk, two runs (one solo home run) and striking out 18. Sale has succeeded against strong lineups, including Mariners (team wRC+ 111) and Phillies (108), and blanked the Cubs over seven innings last May. Chicago will counter with Jameson Taillon returning from the 15-Day IL after a groin injury; Taillon produced two solid starts after a prior calf issue, allowing one run in each outing.
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