Starting Lineups:

Chicago Cubs (27-16):

1) Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

2) Alex Bregman (R) 3B

3) Ian Happ (S) LF

4) Seiya Suzuki (R) DH

5) Matt Shaw (R) RF

6) Michael Busch (L) 1B

7) Dansby Swanson (R) SS

8) Miguel Amaya (R) C

9) Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

Starting Pitcher: RHP Ben Brown (1-1, 1.82 ERA)

Atlanta Braves (30-13):

1) Drake Baldwin (L) C

2) Ozzie Albies (S) 2B

3) Matt Olson (L) 1B

4) Michael Harris II (L) CF

5) Mauricio Dubón (R) LF

6) Austin Riley (R) 3B

7) Dominic Smith (L) DH

8) Ha-Seong Kim (R) SS

9) Mike Yastrzemski (L) RF

Starting Pitcher: LHP Chris Sale (6-2, 2.20 ERA)

Truist Park, Atlanta, GA — In the final game of the 3-game series between the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves, the Cubs shut out the Braves 2-0 thanks to timely hitting and strong pitching.

Both starting pitchers were on point — Cub’s starter Ben Brown and Brave’s starter Chris Sale were both untouched through the first four and five innings of the game, respectively.

Brown’s night was over in the fifth inning, and the Cubs turned the game over to their bullpen. The bullpen pitched five innings of shutout baseball, keeping Atlanta’s potent lineup in check the rest of the way.

The Cubs would finally get on the board in the top of the sixth inning.

Ian Happ drew a lead-off walk in the top of the sixth inning. Seiya Suzuki hit a grounder to shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who committed a throwing error, allowing Happ to advance to third and Suzuki to be safe at first.

One batter later, Matt Shaw would ground into an RBI fielder’s choice to put Chicago ahead 1-0.

Happ would add to the Cubs’ lead in the top of the eighth inning — Happ would launch a ball deep into right field, a solo homer, his 10th of the season, to put Chicago up 2-0.

Ian Happ – photo courtesy of Fan Graphs

The Good: Dansby Swanson, although held hitless in the series, flashed some serious leather over at shortstop. He made great defensive plays the entire series, taking away multiple hits from Brave’s hitters, and tonight was no exception.

The Bad/The Ugly: Both teams struggled with runners in scoring position, with the Cubs going 0-7 and the Braves going 0-6; this, combined with the starts from Brown and Sale, contributed to a low-scoring game.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner