Cubs @ Braves

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Cubs (1-2)

@ Atlanta Braves (0-3)

Starting Pitchers:

Hendricks (CHC): 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Newcomb (ATL) 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Chicago Cubs: 1-2

Atlanta Braves: 0-3

Current odds:

Chicago Cubs: (+100)

Atlanta Braves: (-110)

• The Chicago Cubs won their season opener but then saw their pitching implode in back-to-back losses and head into Monday’s contest against the host Atlanta Braves needing better work on the mound. The Cubs squandered leads of 4-0 and 8-5 in Sunday’s 11-10 setback at Texas, with the winning run scoring on Pedro Strop’s wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to cap a two-day stretch in which Chicago pitchers gave up 19 runs on 22 hits and 18 walks. Chicago pounded out 17 hits in Sunday’s loss as Daniel Descalso finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and has recorded 28 runs and 39 hits through three games.

• The Braves are the only team in baseball yet to register a win as their pitching also struggled in its season-opening series with Philadelphia, giving up 23 runs, 20 walks and eight homers. Freddie Freeman collected six hits in the opening set and owns a 1.492 OPS, but Atlanta’s offense generated just 11 runs. The Braves did not lose three in a row last season until games 31-33 – a three-game sweep by San Francisco in early May.

• Chicago rewarded Hendricks with a four-year contract extension after he led the team with career highs of 33 starts and 199 innings pitched last season. The 29-year-old struggled a bit in spring training, giving up 22 hits over 16 1/3 frames in five starts. Hendricks is 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Braves but did not face them last year.

• Newcomb’s first full major-league season showed plenty of promise, but he also continued to struggle with his control as he went 8-5 with a 3.51 ERA in the first half but 4-4 with a 4.58 mark afterward. The 25-year-old posted a 5.14 ERA across six spring-training outings and walked more hitters (15) than he struck out (14). Newcomb is 0-2 with a 5.17 ERA in three career games against the Cubs.

• The Cubs, who are in the midst of a season-opening nine-game road trip, lead the National League and rank second in the majors in road victories since the start of the 2015 campaign (183).

• Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte and 3B Josh Donaldson, the top two hitters in the lineup, have gone a combined 2-for-22 to start the season.

• The Braves and Cubs split their six meetings in 2018.