Thursday MLB preview: Cubs at Brewers, Nationals at Braves

Cubs starter Jose Quintana (12-8, 3.90 ERA) will face Brewers starter Chase Anderson (6-4, 4.58 ERA) on Thursday night in an encore of an August 30 matchup at Wrigley Field. This rematch a Miller Park promises to be closer than that 7-1 result in favor of Chicago and low-scoring, as well.

Anderson has pitched much better at home this year, with a 5-2 record in 15 appearances (12 starts) and a 3.63 ERA. Opponents are batting just .206 against Anderson in Milwaukee compared to .301 everywhere else. The Brewers' bullpen has found its way over the last two weeks, with a 2.23 ERA, the best mark in the majors.

Quintana is fresh off a solid August, in which he went 4-1 in six starts with a 2.02 ERA. The Colombian has realized a better ERA, WHIP and strikeout/walk ratio on the road in 2019. Chicago's relief corps boasts a 3.30 ERA over the last two weeks, which is eighth in the majors.

MLB free play: Under

Washington Nationals (78-60) at Atlanta Braves (86-54), 7:20 p.m. ET

The offenses of both the Nationals and Braves are humming along as they enter this pivotal weekend series, so much so that not even Washington's Stephen Strasburg (16-5, 3.47 ERA) and Atlanta's Max Fried (15-4, 4.05 ERA) can prevent an early avalanche of runs.

The Braves have plated eight runs per game over their last six contests and are the sixth-most potent offense in baseball at home this year (5.51 runs per game). Strasburg's career splits against Atlanta are nothing special. He is 14-11 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.302 WHIP (compared to a career ERA of 3.18 and WHIP of 1.087). First baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. are a combined 23-for-67 (.343) all-time against the former No. 1 overall draft pick.

Fried was tagged for four runs on nine hits in his first and only start against the Nationals on May 28. Washington has averaged seven runs per game over its last seven games.

MLB free play: Over five runs first five innings (-110)