Chicago @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 0, Atlanta 0

The Chicago Cubs are in the midst of playing 23 games in 23 days through Sept. 12, and the Atlanta Braves will have played 38 contests in 37 days when they reach that date. But even though the two teams - who meet in Atlanta on Thursday to make up an early-season rainout - face a challenging grind as August evolves into September, neither squad is complaining as the matchup pits the National League’s top two teams record-wise in a potential playoff preview.

Chicago actually played more than one game Wednesday by concluding Tuesday’s suspended game against the Mets with a 2-1 victory in 11 innings, before getting crushed in a 10-3 loss in the regularly scheduled contest as manager Joe Maddon rested several of his regular starters. The defeat snapped a season-best seven-game winning streak, and the Cubs begin play Thursday 4 1/2 games ahead of second-place St. Louis in the NL Central sparked by first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who in 14 games since Aug. 15 is hitting .434 with five homers, 11 RBIs, 10 runs scored and six doubles. The Braves waited out two rain delays totaling 1 -hour, 47 minutes but fell 8-5 to Tampa Bay, and carry a 3 1/2-game advantage over Philadelphia in the NL East into Thursday’s third game of a four-team, nine-game homestand. Third baseman Johan Camargo finished 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in the first for the Braves, who went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position in losing for just the third time in their past nine games.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WGN (Chicago), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Mike Montgomery (4-4, 3.62 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (10-8, 2.67)

Montgomery is expected to come off the disabled list (left shoulder inflammation) and make his first appearance since an Aug. 11 relief stint against Washington. The 29-year-old has made 13 starts since May 28 in helping to fill in for injured starter Yu Darvish, posting a 3.08 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in those outings. Montgomery, who gave up one run on 12 hits over 11 1/3 innings across his first two August starts, pitched two innings of scoreless relief against the Braves on May 15.

Foltynewicz struggled in July as he allowed four runs or more in four consecutive starts, but he has returned to All-Star form in August. The 26-year-old has posted a 1.38 ERA in five starts this month, allowing five earned runs across 32 2/3 innings with eight walks and 36 strikeouts. Foltynewicz, who began Wednesday fourth in the NL in ERA and sixth in strikeouts (169), struck out 10 in five innings while surrendering one unearned run against the Cubs on May 15.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago 2B Daniel Murphy is hitting .355 with two homers, five RBIs and six runs scored in seven games since being traded from Washington.

2. Atlanta bolstered its bench for the stretch drive before Wednesday’s game, acquiring C Rene Rivera from the Angels and 1B Lucas Duda from Kansas City in separate deals.

3. Braves 1B Freddie Freeman is 3-for-27 in his past seven games, dropping his batting average from .321 to .310.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Braves 5