Atlanta Braves 4, Chicago Cubs 8

Chicago has spent most of the season giving opposing pitching staffs very little room to relax.

The Cubs lead MLB with 5.32 runs per game. They are also first in slugging percentage and OPS and second with 208 home runs. On Wednesday, that lineup gets an Atlanta team whose best pitching may come after the starter leaves.

The Braves’ bullpen has a 3.40 ERA, third-best in MLB, and a 1.19 WHIP, second-best. If Atlanta can carry a lead into the later innings, Chicago will have to deal with one of the stronger relief groups in baseball.

Getting there may be the difficult part.

JR Ritchie has made eight starts and thrown 58 innings for Atlanta. His 4.50 ERA is accompanied by a 5.41 FIP, 1.43 WHIP and 5.6 walks per nine. Against a Cubs lineup with a .339 on-base percentage, giving away extra baserunners is a dangerous way to work.

Chicago has more stability on the other side.

Shota Imanaga owns a 3.88 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 162.1 innings, and his 2.0 walks per nine stand out next to Ritchie’s command problems. Home runs have been the weakness: Imanaga has allowed 1.90 per nine.

Atlanta is well equipped to test that. The Braves have hit 192 homers, seventh-most in MLB, while averaging 4.62 runs per game.

There is plenty attached to the game beyond the individual matchup. Atlanta leads the NL East at 89–63. Chicago is 84–68 and holds the first NL Wild Card position. The Braves lead the season series 3–2.

So the shape of the game is easy to see even if the outcome is not. Chicago wants to pressure Ritchie early. Atlanta wants to keep the game close enough for its bullpen to become a factor. And Imanaga has to avoid giving a powerful Braves lineup the one mistake it can turn into several runs.

For Atlanta, reaching the late innings in good shape may be the hardest part of the night.