The Atlanta Braves are on the verge of something special—and it’s not just another series win. After an impressive road trip that included taking a series from the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, the Braves are back home, brooms in hand, looking to complete a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs, the current leaders of the NL Central.

This isn’t just any hot streak. A sweep would cap off a dominant six-game stretch against two of the National League’s top teams—a statement that the Braves are built for October baseball, even this early in the season.

Pitching has been the story of this series, and really, the entire season for Atlanta. Through the first two games against Chicago, the Braves’ staff has surrendered just three runs on five hits total. That’s putting pressure on a Cubs lineup that came into Atlanta already in a slump, having been shut out in their final two games in Texas. The Braves have extended that misery with sharp defense and even sharper arms.

Now, the pitching matchup only gets better for Atlanta. Chris Sale takes the mound, and when you have a future Hall-of-Famer with his track record on the bump, you like your chances. Outside of a rare rough outing in Anaheim last month, Sale has been a model of consistency—exactly what the Braves envisioned when they brought him in. In his last start, he kept the Braves competitive against the Dodgers, allowing three runs (two earned) over six innings. That was actually the most he’d given up since that Angels game; in all his other starts, he’s allowed one run or fewer while going at least six innings.

On paper, this looks like a perfect spot for Sale and the Braves. The Cubs’ offense has gone cold, and Sale has been as reliable as they come. But there’s one wrinkle: Chicago has actually been one of the best teams in baseball against left-handed pitching this season. As a unit, they’re hitting .267/.364/.425 against lefties with 15 home runs, a .352 wOBA, and a 126 wRC+—the best mark in the entire league.

So while history and momentum favor the Braves, this afternoon’s game could be a true test of Sale’s consistency against a lineup that has proven it can handle southpaws. For Braves fans, it’s the kind of challenge that makes a potential sweep even sweeter.