Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves preview, Wednesday 4/27, 6:20 CT

A couple of updates on injured Cubs pitchers:

For Millsy, it sounds like it’s going to be a while.

I would think a rehab start would be next for Wade Miley, maybe this weekend, and then perhaps he can be activated next week. Fingers crossed.

Wednesday notes...

• WALKS, OR LACK THEREOF: Cubs pitching did not issue a walk last night, already the team’s third game this season in which the staff did not allow a free pass. The staff had only seven such games all of last season. Meanwhile, Cubs hitters did not draw a walk last night, the team’s first such game this season. It was the Cubs’ first game in which the team did not draw a walk since Sept. 7 of last season vs. the Reds.
• WHAT A RELIEF: Over the Cubs’ last eight games, the bullpen has a 1.14 ERA (4 ER/31.2 IP) with 11 walks, 40 strikeouts and a .529 opponent OPS to go along with a .185 opponent BA (20-for-108). Cubs relievers’ 2.47 ERA (19 earned runs in 69⅓ innings) is the fourth-best mark in the majors behind the Giants (1.70), Dodgers (2.22) and Tigers (2.22).
• AMONG THE LEADERS: Seiya Suzuki is third in the majors with a .463 on-base percentage and a 1.097 OPS. Suzuki also ranks eighth in slugging (.635). Ian Happ ranks sixth in the NL with a .433 on-base percentage.
• AMONG THE TEAM LEADERS: The Cubs lead all MLB teams in OPS with a .758 mark, two points ahead of the Angels (.756) and 11 points ahead of the Rockies (.747).

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Braves lineup:

Mark Leiter Jr., RHP vs. Charlie Morton, RHP

Mark Leiter Jr. has made two starts for the Cubs. Both of them have been bad, although the second one was somewhat less bad.

I really don’t have much else here. No Braves hitter has seen him more than four times. Will that be an advantage? He’s never pitched in Truist Park, either.

Good luck, Mark.

Charlie Morton, meanwhile, has lots and lots and lots of MLB experience, 295 appearances (294 starts). One year ago yesterday at Truist Park, the Cubs scored five runs off him in five innings, although that was mostly guys who aren’t on the team anymore. Current Cubs are hitting a small-sample-size .250 (10-for-40) against him with one home run.

Morton has been hit hard in two of his first three starts this year so let’s hope that continues.

Statcast

Statcast

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

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The 2022 Game Thread procedure will be like last years, similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.

You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.