Cubs, Cade Horton look to stay hot vs. struggling Braves

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton, who didn't give up a hit in his last start against Atlanta, gets another shot on Tuesday when the visiting Cubs face the Braves in the second game of their three-game series.

The Braves (65-79) ended a two-game losing streak by beating the Cubs 4-1 on Monday. Atlanta evened the season series with Chicago (81-63) at two games apiece. The Cubs haven't won a season series against the Braves since 2017.

Horton (9-4, 2.78 ERA) started against the Braves on Wednesday and pitched five scoreless, no-hit innings and retired the last 14 batters he faced. He struck out six, walked one and left after throwing 75 pitches because of a mandated pitch limit.

He will be opposed by Atlanta's Spencer Strider (5-12, 4.97).

Horton has a 1.23 ERA over his last 11 starts with 54 strikeouts and 18 walks in 58 2/3 innings.

"I feel like I'm supposed to go out there and do that," Horton said. "That's my job. It's really cool that I've put up those numbers, but I've got a start in six days and face the same lineup, so it's ‘Go out there and do it again.' It's just never really getting complacent."

Strider was scheduled to start on Sunday, but the club moved him back two days so he could have additional rest. He missed most of the 2024 season following internal brace surgery on his right UCL. Strider, who won 20 games in 2023, was so eager to change his luck that he even shaved his trademark mustache before Monday's game.

The righty has lost five straight games. During that stretch, Strider has a 9.13 ERA -- despite an outing with only one run allowed in seven innings -- and has only 14 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings, with eight home runs surrendered.

"I don't expect any season to be a smooth road," Strider said. "I don't think I've expected that or anyone in here expected that in any season. I would be shocked if anybody anywhere in baseball or sports thinks that it's going to be smoother, right?"

Strider faced the Cubs for the first time in his career on Sept. 1 and allowed three runs and five hits over five innings with three walks and one strikeout.

"I've just got to keep going," Strider said. "It's not like at any moment you can evaluate the process based on where you are currently, because it's not over. It's not like this year is a definitive evaluation of an injury recovery."

Chicago continues to be without outfielder Kyle Tucker, who has missed four straight games because of a calf strain. He is considered day-to-day.

Atlanta catcher Sean Murphy was placed on the injured list with a right hip ailment that will require offseason surgery. The Braves recalled veteran backstop Sandy Leon from Triple-A Gwinnett as his replacement.

The Braves also continue to juggle their bullpen. They signed 2023 All-Star Alexis Diaz after he was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The club also recalled Dane Dunning and Connor Seabold from Triple-A Gwinnett, optioning Hayden Harris and Rolddy Munoz to Triple-A and designating John Brebbia for assignment.

--Field Level Media