ATLANTA — The Cubs have one hit in their last 28 chances batting with runners in scoring position. They’ve scored three runs in their last four games entering play Thursday night against the Braves. Collectively, they have 13 hits in 120 at-bats in that span, a batting average of .108.Surely, even the most jaded denizen of Wrigleyville doesn’t expect this to go on indefinitely, although if you’re looking to break a slump, you wouldn’t nominate Chris Sale as the guy you’d most like to see looming over you on the mound.Sale is a decade removed from the days when he was dealing for the White Sox, but since reviving his career three years ago when he came to Atlanta, he has been as intimidating as ever, still throwing his fastball at 98 mph. The left-hander won a Cy Young Award in 2024, was averaging just under 12 strikeouts per nine innings last season until fracturing a rib cage and missing 62 games, and at age 37 is off to another great start this season. He brought a 6-2 record, 2.20 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 49 innings into Thursday’s series finale against the Cubs.“Yeah, he’s one of the best in the game, so it’ll be a good test for us,’’ left fielder Ian Happ said.A test much better taken, it would seem, when the Cubs were scoring five or more runs a game, as they’ve done 23 times this season, including their last three games at home before this downturn.The…
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