As the Chicago Cubs prepare to welcome the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field, fans are eager to see if their team can leverage home advantage and recent performance trends in their favor. The upcoming game, scheduled for May 21, 2024, at 6:40 PM local time (Chicago), promises an exciting clash that will be broadcast on BSSO.

May 15, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Miles Mastrobuoni (20) slides into third base against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Analyzing the Cubs' performance in their last few games reveals a mixed bag of outcomes and statistics that could influence their strategy against the Braves. In a recent match against the Pittsburgh Pirates, despite a loss with only two hits leading to two runs, the Cubs showed resilience with a strong bullpen performance. Their pitchers managed an ERA of 0.0 over 4.1 innings pitched from the bullpen, indicating solid relief efforts that could prove crucial in tight situations.

However, hitting remains a concern for the Cubs as they struggled with an average of .077 during this game. This lack of offensive firepower was evident as they left eleven runners on base and failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

May 15, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

In another encounter with the Pirates where they secured a narrow victory (1-0), pitching again stood out as their strength - showcasing an impressive bullpen ERA of 0.0 across two innings and overall pitching staff holding opponents to a .129 batting average.

Yet, it's clear that offensive consistency is needed; despite winning one game and losing two recently, scoring has been minimal due to low hit rates (.179 in one game) and struggles with runners in scoring position.

May 15, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) runs after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Wrigley Field's conditions on game day might play into these dynamics significantly. Known for its unique environmental factors like wind direction and speed which can drastically affect gameplay - both teams will need to adjust accordingly. For instance, wind conditions have varied from NNE at 8 mph showing sunny skies to SSW winds at up to 13 mph under partly cloudy conditions during past games; such variability could impact hitting strategies especially for teams struggling offensively like the Cubs.

As we look towards this matchup between these historic rivals at one of baseball's most iconic venues - all eyes will be on whether or not the Chicago Cubs can harness their pitching strengths while finding much-needed rhythm offensively under Wrigley's unpredictable skies.

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