House That Hank Built
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Can Atlanta Braves or Chicago Cubs compete with Dodgers in the NL?

By Jake Mastroianni

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 4: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves is tagged out at home by Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs in the fourth inning of an MLB game at SunTrust Park on April 4, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 4: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves is tagged out at home by Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs in the fourth inning of an MLB game at SunTrust Park on April 4, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 01: Ronald  Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a solo homer to lead off the third inning against the Chicago Cubs on April 01, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 01: Ronald  Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a solo homer to lead off the third inning against the Chicago Cubs on April 01, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Game 4 – TBD – Tyler Chatwood

Depending on how the first three games of this series go, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Touki Toussaint start this game for the Atlanta Braves.

But if a starter has to exit early in the first three games and they have to use him and Sean Newcomb, I’m not sure who will start this one for the Braves.

Tyler Chatwood has been very solid for the Cubs this year in whatever role he’s been needed in.

He’s only thrown more than 4 innings in a game once this season, so this could essentially be a bullpen game for the Cubs depending on how long Chatwood lasts.

Chatwood gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and a walk over 4 innings against the Mets in his last outing with just 1 strikeout.

Freddie Freeman has owned Chatwood in his career with 8 hits in 16 at-bats, but he hasn’t homered off him. Freeman is also the only Braves hitter with double-digit at-bats against him.

Markakis is 3-for-7 and Ozzie is 2-for-5 off the righty.

Preview and Prediction

One the season, the Braves rank fifth in baseball in runs scored while the Cubs rank 14th. The Atlanta Braves rank 5th in average and the Cubs 15th.

More from Tomahawk Take

The Cubs rank sixth in ERA, while the Atlanta Braves rank 12th. They both are top six in bullpen ERA, but the difference is in the starters.

Chicago has the eighth best starter’s ERA in baseball, while the Atlanta Braves are 18th.

Both of these teams do one thing well, and what separates them from the Dodgers right now is that LA does everything well.

So no, the Cubs and Dodgers are still not on par with the Dodgers. But still, if anybody from the NL is going to stop them, it’s probably one of these two teams.

We still don’t know the outcome of Mike Soroka, but I hate that he won’t face the Cubs in this series.

But on the flip side, we won’t see Cole Hamels, Kyle Hendricks (injured), and Jose Quintana.

I’m not sure why Quintana isn’t scheduled to start the Thursday game, but maybe that will change.

Next. Braves continue adding to prospect pile. dark

Prediction: I hate predicting four-game series because it’s just so easy to say the two teams will split. But this certainly seems like it will end in a split. And I’m OK with that as an Atlanta Braves fan.

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