Braves hope Inciarte stays hot against Cubs

CHICAGO -- Ender Inciarte was already having an impressive season, keeping a pace to become the first Atlanta Braves player with 200 hits since 1996.

Then came Wednesday.

The 26-year-old leadoff batter went 8-for-10 with five RBI during the Braves' doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies. He was the first player to amass eight hits and five RBI in a single day since Minnesota's Tony Oliva on July 29, 1969.

"It was a big day for him. Doubleheader, to get eight hits in a day? That's pretty impressive," said Braves starter Julio Teheran, who got the victory in a 5-2 Game 2 decision. "It's impressive. He's been doing that all year."

While the Wednesday total production was exceptional, it is consistent hitting that makes Inciarte dangerous as the Chicago Cubs try to figure out how to handle him during a weekend Wrigley Field series.

Inciarte went a modest 1-for-4 on Thursday in the series opener against the Cubs, including a third-inning double to right. He finished the night with a .309 average that ranks 11th in the National League. His total of 173 hits ranks second in the NL.

"It was fun," Inciarte said of his Wednesday performance. "You come here just thinking you're going to play two games and try to get on base for your teammates, and I end up having a really good day."

The only other Braves player with eight hits in a single day was Buck Jordan on Aug. 25, 1936.

The Braves (59-73) fell 6-2 to the Cubs (73-60) on Thursday. Chicago is now 30-15 since the All-Star break and a season-high 13 games over .500

Atlanta sends right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (10-10, 4.84 ERA) against Cubs right-hander John Lackey (10-10, 4.98) on Friday.

Foltynewicz lost each of his last four starts and five of his past six. He is 0-1 lifetime against the Cubs with a 13.50 ERA in one start, allowing seven runs on eight hits in a 4 2/3-inning outing on Aug. 20, 2015.

In Lackey's most recent start, Sunday at Philadelphia, he allowed no runs through four innings before the Phillies hit him for five runs (four earned) in the fifth inning on the way to a 6-3 Cubs loss.

That snapped a run of eight consecutive Chicago wins in games started by Lackey.

"I have a lot of faith in John Lackey," Cubs manager Joe Maddon recently told WSCR-AM, the Cubs' flagship radio station. "Even if the start (recently) wasn't exactly what you're looking for, this guy, the word is 'compete.' I think that word."

Lackey is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta. He earned a win on July 18 at SunTrust Park, allowing one run on five hits in a 5-1 victory.

One player Lackey won't have to face Friday is Brandon Phillips, as the Braves dealt the veteran infielder to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. Atlanta, which agreed to pick up part of Phillips' remaining salary for the year, received minor league catcher Tony Sanchez in the trade.

Cubs left-hander Jon Lester is scheduled to come off the disabled list on Saturday to take the mound against Braves right-hander Lucas Simms. Lester has been on the disabled list since Aug. 18 with left lat tightness and general shoulder fatigue.