Tuesday notes…
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WINNING STREAK WRAP: The Cubs’ 10-game losing streak that ended Friday was their 25th double-digit streak since 1901. Their losses Saturday and Sunday marked the 10th time such a streak was followed by multiple defeats, including three in a row after their earlier streak this season. They lost five consecutive games after two previous streaks, in 1917, after winning 10 in a row, May 6-17, and in 1944, after winning 11 straight, July 25-Aug. 4. Following a sixth-game win, they lost three more. The Cubs dropped four games after winning 13, May 5-19, 1928. They lost three after streaks of 11 games in 1935, 10 games in 1998 and this year. They lost twice after winning 10 games in 1911, 12 in 1927, 15 in 1936 and two in 2016. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
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OFF DAY NOTE: The Cubs are 4-2 this year after a day off, including 1-1 on the road. Both games were at Cleveland: a 4-1 loss in the series opener following a scheduled day of rest, than a 1-0 win in Game 1 of a Sunday doubleheader following a rainout on Saturday. Last year, the Cubs were 15-12 after all days off but 3-9 on the road. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
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HOT HITTER: Michael Conforto, last 11 games since April 19: .455/.519/.955 (10-for-22) with five doubles, two home runs, four walks, five RBI and six runs scored.
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TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Jim Bullinger threw a two-hit complete-game shutout and homers by Ryne Sandberg and Sammy Sosa led the Cubs to a 2-0 win over the Mets at New York. It happened 30 years ago today, Sunday, May 12, 1996.
Cubs lineup:
So, I’ve said many times I will admit when I’m wrong. I did not think Craig Counsell would have Moisés Ballesteros catch in this series. But here he is, starting the first game behind the plate. Hope it works out.
Braves lineup:
Colin Rea, RHP vs. Grant Holmes, RHP
Colin Rea has been pretty good this year since being pressed into service in the rotation when Cade Horton went down. Of his five starts (plus one as the “bulk guy” after an opener), all but one have been pretty good.
He made one start against the Braves last year, Sept. 1, 2025 at Wrigley Field, and allowed three runs in four innings. No current Braves player has more than eight at-bats against him. Matt Olson is 4-for-8 with two doubles and a home run, for whatever that small sample size is worth.
Grant Holmes has been around a long time, even though he’s only been in MLB since 2024. He was the Dodgers’ first round pick (22nd overall) in 2014 out of high school in South Carolina. Then he was traded to the A’s for Rich Hill (!) in 2016. He languished six years in the A’s organization and they released him in 2022. The Braves picked him up and he made 21 starts for them last year and posted 1.5 bWAR.
So obviously he’s not young — he’s 30 — and he has never faced the Cubs. Michael Conforto is 3-for-6 against him with a double and three walks.
Here is the weather forecast for the area around Truist Park.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. It’s also on TBS (outside the Cubs and Braves market territories).
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
MLB.com Gameday
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Braves site Battery Power. If you do go there to interact with Braves fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
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