Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves MLB Picks, Odds, Predictions 4/16/21
2021-04-16 14:20:00 EDT
The Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs meet Friday in MLB action from Wrigley Field.
The Braves are coming off a series versus the Marlins this week. After three straight losses to kick things off, in Thursday’s game four Atlanta notched a one-run walk-off victory. As for the Cubs, they played the Brewers this week. Chicago went just 1-2 in that set. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Atlanta didn’t have much luck in the Marlins series. The Braves lost the first three games 5-3, 14-8 and 6-5. In the Thursday game four, Atlanta was down 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but a walk-off single from Dansby Swanson finished off the 7-6 comeback.
For the Friday game one start, the Braves will send out Drew Smyly. In his two starts this year so far, Smyly has a 5.73 ERA with 11 Ks, one walk, three homers and seven earned in 11.0 total innings. He’s coming off five earned in 5.0 innings versus the Phillies in his last game.
Over on the Cubs’ side, they fell to the Brewers 6-3 on Monday and then got a win 3-2 on Tuesday. In the Wednesday game Chicago couldn’t get anything going in a 7-0 shutout loss. Starter Jake Arrieta posted 5.0 innings with four hits and three earned in that one.
For the Friday starter role, the Cubs are sending out Zach Davies. In his two appearances so far (both versus the Pirates), Davies has a 11.05 ERA with nine earned, one homer, six walks and seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings.
The Braves are 24-11 in their last 35 Friday games and 2-6 in their last eight road games. The over is 10-0-1 in Atlanta’s last 11 Friday games and 16-6-4 in their last 26 in game one of a series.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are 5-1 in their last six versus a left-handed starter and 24-9 in their last 33 in game one of a series. Chicago is 3-7 in their last 10 home games and 1-4 in their last five overall.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Cubs, even though Davies struggled last time out. That’s basically the lesser of two evils here, as neither team has been playing all that well lately. Smyly has thrown a strikeout per inning and has a good curveball, but he’s giving up a decent amount of homers and hard-hit balls. I think Chicago will have some opportunities here if their offense shows up.
