The Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs are bringing their regular season drama to Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois this Monday at 7:40 PM EDT, and if you are tuning in on MLB.TV or BravesVision, you might want to keep a hard hat nearby. We have a classic clash of philosophies here: the Braves boast a pristine 3.56 team ERA that suggests they actually enjoy preventing runs, while the Cubs prefer a more charitable 4.19 ERA, relying instead on a slightly flashier .252 team batting average to outrun their own hospitality. Atlanta’s bats are sitting at a quieter .247, but against Chicago's pitching staff, everyone looks like a silver slugger.
Atlanta is handing the ball to AJ Smith-Shawver, who enters with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP over 21.0 innings that suggests the strike zone is merely a polite suggestion to him. He will match wits with Chicago left-hander David Peterson, a man whose 148 hits and 14 home runs allowed over 131.1 innings make him the most generous host in the Windy City. With Atlanta's bullpen missing Robert Suarez and Bryce Elder to the injured list, both managers will likely be staring at the Wrigley flags and praying for a gale-force wind blowing straight in from Lake Michigan. Head over to StreakChat to lock in your pick and tell us which of these pitching tightrope acts you trust to survive the night.