The set-up: The Atlanta Braves came into the 2018 season off winning 67, 68 and 72 games the previous three years, so the team's 7-5 start is mildly surprising. The Braves have held their own against some of the National League's best teams, splitting six games with the Nats (97 wins in 2017) and taking two of three from the Rockies (87 wins). Atlanta will face another big test with a three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs that begins Friday. The Cubs won 103 games and then the 2016 World Series and followed with 92 wins and a second straight NL Central crown last season. However, Chicago's had an inconsistent start in 2018, evidenced by it losing 8-5 on Tuesday in the first of its three-games series with Pittsburgh, then winning on Wednesday 13-5 by scoring a season-high in runs but losing the series finale on Thursday, 6-1. The Cubs have hovered around .500 out of the gate and are back there at 6-6 heading into this weekend's series against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. The Braves come into Friday's contest having had a much-needed day off Thursday, after concluding their three-game series at Washington with a 5-3 win in 12 innings. Atlanta's bats have cooled off after a hot start, as the team has scored a total of only 12 runs over its last five games after averaging eight per game in its first seven contests.

The pitching matchup: Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will get teh ball fro Atlanta and the Cubs will turn to their biggest off-season acquisition, Yu Darvish (0-0, 5.23 ERA). Sanchez beagan his career with the Marlins and threw a no-hitter for them in a 2–0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 6, 2006. Sanchez is hoping to revive his career after a couple of rough years to end his tenure with Detroit and the 34-year-old worked three strong innings of relief in his Braves debut (April 2) plus was effective in his first start for Atlanta this past Saturday at Colorado, allowing two runs and seven hits with six strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision (Braves lost 3-2). Sanchez is 3-2 with a 3.82 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs, with the last occurring in 2015. Darvish was far from sharp in his Chicago debut, allowing five ERs in 4 1/3 innings but was dominant in his second start with the Cubs. He registered nine strikeouts and allowed only two hits – including a solo homer – over six innings Saturday at Milwaukee. Darvish will be facing the Braves for the first time in his career.

The pick: The Braves are wrapping up a nine-game road trip with these three games in Wrigley Field and the Braves are just 4-9 against the Cubs the last two seasons, including just 1-6 in 2017. Darvish looked very good in his last outing (plus Atlanta's bats have gone quiet) and I'm not even a little bit convinced that Sanchez has 'anything left in his tank!' Make the Cubs a 6* play.