Sandy León enters Braves lineup in Cubs game 2

TL;DR

Sandy León joins the Braves lineup as they face the Cubs, with rookie JR Ritchie on the mound. The Braves aim for an early series win after a strong performance in the previous game.

Key points

Sandy León replaces the catcher position in the Braves lineup
Braves aim for an early series win against the Cubs
Rookie JR Ritchie is pitching for the Braves
Braves' offense has strong stats against Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga
Ronald Acuña Jr. is absent but progressing in recovery

Atlanta BravesChicago Cubs

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves congratulates Drake Baldwin #30 after a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images After ending yesterday’s game against the Chicago Cubs with a one-hitter, the Atlanta Braves are looking to secure an early series win and a whole new offensive plan with rookie JR Ritchie on the mound. Let’s look at who we have.

The one question that’s been surfacing is, “Where’s Dominic Smith on the starting lineup?” With Ronald Acuña Jr. still absent, Manager Walt Weiss has been making a few adjustments to right field, and so far, it’s been working. That doesn’t mean, however, Braves Country isn’t missing their new heavy-hitter on the starting roster, especially since he’s been consistently producing results. Regardless, the Braves lineup consists of batting leadoff. is set to take over the catching spot as Drake Baldwin occupies DH in the two-hole. Both Dubón and León will be facing Cubs starting pitcher for the first time, while four member of the Braves’ offense (Ozzie Albies, José Azocar, Baldwin and ) all averaging over a 1.000 OPS against the lefty. The remainder of the lineup is identical to yesterday’s, with a few slight changes in order due to the shift in leadoff. Though pulling off a win in yesterday’s matchup, the offense is looking to make a bigger impact on a team that’s also leading their division and known to get hot at the right times. To avoid a revenge run from the hot Cubs, they’ll have to establish their runs early to rattle Imanaga and impact their bats. As for Acuña, he is set to continue running drills at Truist to test his hamstring, according to Braves insider Grant McAuley, and will be on standby for a return date. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m EST tonight.

Q&A

Why is Sandy León starting for the Braves against the Cubs?

Sandy León is starting as the catcher to fill the gap left by Ronald Acuña Jr.'s absence and to enhance the team's offensive strategy.

What time is the Braves vs. Cubs game scheduled for?

The Braves vs. Cubs game is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. EST.

How has the Braves' offense performed against Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga?

Four members of the Braves' offense are averaging over a 1.000 OPS against Shota Imanaga, indicating strong potential performance.