Braves at Cubs
Willson Contreras is on pace to surpass his previous career high for home runs, and he also doesn't mind getting under the skin of opponents. Contreras hopes for another productive performance when the Chicago Cubs host the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game series.
Contreras went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in Monday's 8-3 win and created a benches-clearing incident as he looked back at Atlanta catcher Tyler Flowers before taking his home-run trot and and barked at him en route to crossing the plate. "It was emotional, but I have to have respect for my team too," Contreras told NBCS Chicago during a postgame television interview. "I don't want to disrespect anybody, but my emotions are there every single game and I try to do everything to keep my team on track." Contreras' homer was his 16th - five shy of the career high he set in 2017 - and helped hand the Braves only their fourth setback in the last 17 games. Dansby Swanson belted his 15th shot of the season, eclipsing last year's total as the most in his career.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), NBCS Chicago Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Max Fried (8-3, 4.03 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Adbert Alzolay (1-0, 2.25)
Fried was winless during a four-start stretch before beating the New York Mets in his last turn, when he gave up two runs and eight hits over six innings. The 25-year-old allowed 17 runs and 31 hits over 20 1/3 frames during his drought after compiling a 2.88 ERA entering the span. Fried allowed one hit over six scoreless innings while defeating the Cubs on April 4 and is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two career starts versus the club.
Alzolay was impressive in four-plus innings of relief in his major-league debut on Thursday, when he gave up just one hit - a homer - while picking up the win against the Mets. The 24-year-old registered five strikeouts and issued two walks in the 55-pitch outing, demonstrating to the Cubs that he was ready to make a major-league start. “He came through the first one very well,” Chicago manager Joe Maddon told reporters. “We know he’s stretched out. We know he can do it.”
WALK-OFFS
1. Braves LHP Sean Newcomb is expected to be activated from the 7-day concussion list prior to Tuesday's game.
2. Chicago RHP Craig Kimbrel is slated to pitch at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday for the fourth time, and the expectation is he'll be ready to return to the majors later this week.
3. Atlanta RHP Mike Soroka (forearm) may be pushed back from his scheduled start against the Mets on Friday as he recovers from being hit by a line drive during Sunday's game against Washington.