Cubs Crush Braves: Tauchman and Suzuki Lead the Charge

The Leadoff Man

Cubs Bounce Back Big: Redemption at Truist Park!

After suffering back-to-back shutouts against the Braves, the Cubs—and myself—needed a win tonight. With a 25-19 record and sitting second in the NL Central, the pressure was on as they faced the Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta. Javier Assad squared off against Charlie Morton, and the Cubs didn't just edge out the Braves; they crushed them with a 7-1 victory. From a leadoff homer by Mike Tauchman to Seiya Suzuki's 412-foot blast in the top of the eighth, this game was all about redemption. Let’s break down the key moments of this triumphant return to form.

Cubs Edge Out Braves – Game Recap

The Cubs delivered a strong performance, redeeming themselves with a decisive 7-1 win against the Braves.

Coming off two tough shutouts, the Cubs needed a spark, and Mike Tauchman provided it with a leadoff home run on the very first pitch. This early lead set the tone for a night of redemption. By the time Javier Assad took the mound, the Cubs had already given him a comfortable 3-0 cushion.

The first inning was action-packed. Seiya Suzuki doubled on a line drive to right fielder Adam Duvall, deflected by pitcher Charlie Morton. Cody Bellinger followed with a single, advancing Suzuki to third. Christopher Morel then grounded into a force-out, allowing Suzuki to score and giving the Cubs an early lead. After a few more strategic plays and key hits, including a single by Nick Madrigal and a hit-by-pitch that sent Pete Crow-Armstrong to first, the Cubs added another run, thanks to Michael Busch scoring from third.

Manager Craig Counsell praised the bottom of the lineup for their contributions, saying, "The bottom of the lineup did a really nice job, Mastro, Nicky, and Pete, just contributing to the offense... early runs was a good place for us to take a deep breath and get the starter out of the game early."

The Cubs' offense continued to shine, and in the top of the eighth, PCA tripled before Seiya Suzuki unleashed a 412-foot homer to secure a commanding 7-1 lead. This game was a much-needed morale booster as the Cubs head back home.

Assad is Bringing His “A” Game

On the pitching side, Javier Assad delivered a masterclass. Over six innings, Assad kept the Braves hitters off-balance, allowing just four hits and no earned runs. His command was impeccable, highlighted by only one walk and seven strikeouts, proving he could handle the pressure and deliver when it mattered most. Cubs manager Craig Counsell praised Assad's sinker, saying, "It was definitely a pitch that had them on their heels and they were struggling with it. He made really good pitches with it."

Roster Move Reasoning: Cubs Reunite with Promising Pitcher!

Superfans wondered why the Mariners decided to designate Tyson Miller for assignment despite his solid performance. Well, let's break it down.

Miller, who boasts a commendable 3.09 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 11.2 innings this season, found himself a victim of the numbers game. The Mariners needed to make room on their 40-man roster to activate Bryan Woo from the injured list​​​​. It wasn't about Miller's talent—far from it. It was simply a matter of juggling roster spots to accommodate other players.

Seattle's bullpen is packed, and managing a roster isn't always about who deserves to stay—sometimes it's about who fits where at the moment. The Mariners' decision was driven by necessity, not Miller's performance. They had to make a tough call, and Miller ended up being the odd man out​.

For us Cubs fans, this is great news! We’ve snagged a quality pitcher who’s been performing well, all because Seattle had to make a roster shuffle. Miller was able to throw 2 innings in Tuesday’s Dumpster Fire game

The Closer

Get ready! The Pirates are coming to town, and we have all the details you need. The Cubs took 2 of 3 from the Pirates last weekend in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the Pirates dropped 2 of 3 in Milwaukee.

Series Overview

• Thursday, May 16th at 6:40 PM CDT
  Jared Jones (PIT) vs. Justin Steele (CHC)

• Friday, May 17th at 1:20 PM CDT
  Paul Skenes (PIT) vs. Kyle Hendricks (CHC)

• Saturday, May 18th at 1:20 PM CDT
  Bailey Falter (PIT) vs. Shota Imanaga (CHC)

• Sunday, May 19th at 1:20 PM CDT
  Mitch Keller (PIT) vs. Jameson Taillon (CHC)

Key Players to Watch

Cubs’ Key Players:

Who's Hot: Cody Bellinger is on a tear! He's been the backbone of the Cubs' lineup recently, posting a .353 average in May and consistently finding ways to get on base.

Who's Not: Miguel Amaya has been struggling at the plate, hitting just .143 in May. His advanced stats aren't much better, with a low on-base percentage and minimal slugging power. Here's hoping he turns it around soon.

Hot Watch: Hayden Wesneski has been impressive on the mound. With a 2.93 ERA over 15.1 innings and 13 strikeouts, he's been a reliable arm for the Cubs. Keep an eye on him to keep the Pirates at bay.

Opponent’s Key Players:

Who's Hot: Oneil Cruz is tearing it up lately. He’s batting .333 this month and has blasted 4 home runs. Our pitchers need to be careful with this guy; he’s a game-changer. Bryan Reynolds might look like he’s taking it easy with a .255 average, but don’t be fooled. This guy’s got 6 doubles and a triple, and he’s just waiting for the right moment to strike.

Who's Not: Edward Olivares is struggling at the plate, hitting a mere .217. He’s not much of a threat right now, so let’s keep it that way. Nick Gonzales is another Pirate not causing much damage, batting .222. With only one homer, he’s not likely to light up the scoreboard.

Previous Encounters

The Cubs took 2 of 3 last weekend in Pittsburgh. Paul Skenes will get his second look at the Cubs on Friday in his second MLB start. Let’s hope we’ve got his number this time around.

Conclusion

Series Outlook: I was OK with the Cubs taking 1 of 3 from the Braves in Atlanta, but I’m not so forgiving with the Pirates at Wrigley. I expect 3 wins out of 4 this weekend. Let's make it happen, Cubs!

Get your rally caps ready and prepare for an exciting series at the Friendly Confines. Go Cubs Go!