Chicago @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2012 ) Chi. Cubs 5, Atlanta 1

While Chicago finds itself buried in the NL Central, the future appears bright. Right fielder Bryan LaHair and first baseman Anthony Rizzo will have plenty of opportunities in the season’s final 81 games to continue their good work. LaHair, a NL All-Star, hit his 14th homer in Wednesday’s victory at Atlanta, raising his average to .293. Rizzo connected for his third homer and is hitting .323 a week after being promoted. The Braves are six games out of first place in the NL East.

The Cubs send Matt Garza to the mound in Thursday's finale. Garza is one of several arms the Braves are targeting to replace struggling Mike Minor, who takes the hill for Atlanta. Another Chicago starter rumored to be a trade candidate, Ryan Dempster, may return from a sore right lat muscle and pitch Sunday against the Mets.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), SportSouth (Atlanta).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Matt Garza (4-6, 4.01 ERA) vs. Braves LH Mike Minor (4-6, 6.20).

As rumors swirl that Garza could be on the move by July’s end, the right-hander has won two of his past three starts. Garza beat Houston on Saturday, surrendering nine hits but allowing just two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Garza is 2-5 since May 21.

Minor beat the Nationals in his last start on Saturday, giving up five hits and four earned runs in five innings. Minor also walked five hitters in that contest and has pitched six innings just once in his past six starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minor’s ERA ranks 192nd among pitchers who have started at least one game this season. Minor makes his 16th start Thursday.

2. Atlanta’s Chipper Jones (11 games) and Martin Prado (10 games) carry hitting streaks into the series finale.

3. Chicago 3B Ian Stewart will have season-ending surgery on his left wrist Tuesday.