The visiting Chicago White Sox hope to ding the Atlanta Braves' hot streak by sending their best pitcher to the mound in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
Chicago's Ivan Nova (9-10, 4.37 ERA) will face Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (14-4, 4.03) on Friday.
The Braves have won nine of their last 11 and lead the NL East, but they can't afford to ease up with the Washington Nationals only 5 1/2 games back.
"Nobody's guaranteed, nobody's told me that we're in the playoffs yet," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.