Cubs hope mainstays can break slumps vs. Braves

The Chicago Cubs hope the final month of the regular season goes better for Carson Kelly and Pete Crow-Armstrong than the last one.

Kelly is off to a great September start heading into the second game of a three-game series against the visiting Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, and Crow-Armstrong showed he is willing to try anything to end his slump.

After the Cubs (79-59) fell behind 6-1 in the series opener on Monday afternoon, Kelly came through with a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth inning and later delivered a walk-off single in the 10th to lift Chicago to a 7-6 victory.

Kelly hit .217 in August and hadn't homered since July 21, a drought of 28 games.

"Carson's kind of been battling it offensively," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after the win. "He's been so important for us this year, and he's been such an important presence on both sides of the ball. I'm just happy for him. He was due for this. He was due for a big one."

On July 10, Crow-Armstrong became the fourth-fastest player in history to record at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season, getting there in his 92nd game. However, since making his first All-Star appearance five days later, he has just three home runs and four stolen bases.

Crow-Armstrong hit .160 in August, dropping his batting average from .272 to .250.

In the sixth inning on Monday, with Braves third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. playing well off the bag, Crow-Armstrong laid down a successful bunt single, setting the stage for a two-run double by Dansby Swanson that pulled Chicago within 6-4.

"Then you're talking about a ballgame," Counsell said. "That's probably what was going through (Crow-Armstrong's) head, too, is just trying to find something positive that he could do."

The Cubs plan to start left-hander Shota Imanaga on Tuesday.

Imanaga (8-6, 3.08 ERA) went 0-2 in five starts during August, despite posting a 2.65 ERA.

He tossed exactly seven innings in each of his past three outings, most recently allowing three runs and five hits in a no-decision against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.

Imanaga threw five shutout innings in his only appearance against the Braves, a 2-0 loss on May 13, 2024, in which he did not receive a decision.

Left-hander Joey Wentz will get the nod for the Braves (62-76).

Wentz (5-4, 4.92 ERA) is with his third major league team this season after being claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on July 11. He began the campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Wentz finished 3-2 with a 4.73 ERA across five starts in August. He most recently allowed one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings en route a 12-1 win against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old had allowed six runs, nine hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings during a 12-7 loss to the New York Mets in his previous start on Aug. 22.

"I love how he rebounded and was in the strike zone a lot," Braves manager Brian Snitker said after the Wednesday contest. "His stuff was really good."

Wentz has made five relief appearances against the Cubs in his career, compiling a 14.40 ERA in those games without a decision. He had three outings vs. Chicago earlier this year and allowed a total of four runs on five hits in three innings.

The Braves made a move on Monday with an eye on the 2026 season, claiming infielder Ha-Seong Kim off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. Kim, who has been on the 10-day injured list since Aug. 21 with lower back inflammation, is expected to be activated on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old, who played just 24 games (.214 average) for the Rays after signing as a free agent during the offseason, is expected to bolster the middle of the Atlanta infield.