The Atlanta Braves lost to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field Tuesday night, their 15th loss in their last 18 road contests. The Braves are looking to regain contender status in the National League East after failing to win the division crown the last two seasons, but their struggles on the road are keeping them from staying above the .500 mark and making a move on the NL East-leading Phillies.

The Braves are 7-22 away from Turner Field this season. Their win total and .241 road winning percentage are the lowest in the major leagues. A key problem is the team’s inability to win a one-run decision on the road.

In fact, the last time the Braves won a one-run game on the road was Aug. 9, when they defeated the Mets at Shea Stadium, 7-6. Since then, they have lost 20 straight one-run decisions away from home. In that span, the Braves have a 17-37 road record, also the worst in the majors.

Atlanta’s road futility in one-run games picked up steam at the start of the 2008 season. The Braves dropped each of their first three road games by a single run, and in losing seven of their last eight road contests, four of them have been by one run.

Between 1991 and 2005, when Atlanta dominated the NL East, the Braves bullpen posted a 3.70 ERA. Only the Dodgers (3.67) had a lower mark during this 15-year span.

The Braves pen hasn’t been the same since the team won its last division title in 2005. With the team’s offense in the middle of the big league pack in runs per game, Atlanta needs to get the kind of pitching that was the team’s trademark during its long run of playoff appearances. Particularly on the road.