Yahoo! Sports · Aug 31, 2019
Nova, White Sox look to slow surging Braves
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. "So, I'm not doing anything but trying to win that night, because until we clinch the division, you're not guaranteed anything.