Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves facing a lot of similar narratives early in 2019

After just three games, pundits, rivals and fans alike are ready to cast the Chicago Cubs and their 2019 season into a fiery chasm of doom and despair.

Look, I get it. Given how last season drew to a close, with the Chicago Cubs dropping the winner-take-all Game 163 to the Milwaukee Brewers followed by an extra-inning Wild Card game loss to the Colorado Rockies, it’s hard to not think about how a lackluster Opening Weekend series could decide the Cubs’ fate in 2019.

But two losses in late March are no different than the dozens of other losses every team will suffer over the course of the season – contrary to what I’m being told on Twitter. Make no mistake. The team’s pitching performance over the weekend in Texas isn’t going to cut it. And that doesn’t just apply to the bullpen, either. Both Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels struggled – regardless of how good the latter’s first four innings were on Sunday afternoon.

Chicago (1-2) opens a big week in their early season schedule with a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park. Recently-extended right-hander Kyle Hendricks makes his season debut in Monday night’s opener opposite Sean Newcomb, looking to get the Cubs back to .500.

So, ahead of this potential postseason matchup, we sat down with Jake Mastroianni of Tomahawk Take to get a closer look at the reigning National League East champion Atlanta Braves.