The Chicago Cubs (81–63) look to snap a three-game skid as they continue their series with the Atlanta Braves (65–79) tonight at Truist Park.
Chicago sits 7.5 games back in the NL Central, making a division title increasingly unlikely, but they remain in a strong position for the postseason. The Cubs currently lead the NL Wild Card race, holding a two-game edge over the San Diego Padres and a three-game cushion over the San Francisco Giants, who are just outside the playoff picture.
Barring a collapse, the Cubs are playoff-bound, though their bats need to wake up. They’ve scored fewer than two runs per game over their last three contests, including a single run last night against struggling Atlanta starter Bryce Elder.
On the mound, the matchup again favors Chicago. Cade Horton (9–4, 2.78 ERA) has been dominant, going 5–1 with a 1.03 ERA over his last seven starts. Just last week, he fired five no-hit innings against Atlanta before being pulled.
Spencer Strider (5–12, 4.97 ERA) gets the start for the Braves. He’s in the midst of a brutal stretch with a 1–5 record and a 7.75 ERA over his past seven outings, though he limited Chicago to three runs across five innings in his most recent start.
Prediction
The Cubs should get just enough offense off Strider to back Horton, who continues to pitch like an ace down the stretch.
Prediction: Cubs 5, Braves 3
Starting Lineups
Chicago Cubs
1. Michael Busch — 1B
2. Ian Happ — LF
3. Seiya Suzuki — DH
4. Pete Crow‑Armstrong — CF
5. Nico Hoerner — 2B
6. Carson Kelly — C
7. Willi Castro — RF
8. Dansby Swanson — SS
9. Matt Shaw — 3B
Starting Pitcher: Cade Horton (RHP) — 9–4, 2.78 ERA
Atlanta Braves
1. Jurickson Profar – LF
2. Matt Olson – 1B
3. Ozzie Albies – 2B
4. Drake Baldwin – C
5. Ha‑Seong Kim – SS
6. Michael Harris II – CF
7. Ronald Acuña Jr. – DH
8. Jake Fraley – RF
9. Nacho Álvarez Jr. – 3B
Starting Pitcher: Spencer Strider (RHP) — 5–12, 4.97 ERA
How to Watch Cubs vs. Braves
First pitch for tonight’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves is set for 7:15 PM Eastern at Truist Park in Atlanta.
The game airs live on Marquee Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Network South, and FanDuel Sports Network Southeast. Out-of-market viewers can stream the game live on MLB.TV.
Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves
Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
First Pitch: 7:15 PM Eastern
Venue: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: Marquee Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast
Streaming: MLB.TV
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