The Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs meet Thursday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. Here’s a Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves prediction. This will be the final installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Atlanta Braves Betting Preview
The Braves had a rough series versus the San Diego Padres over the weekend. Atlanta lost the first three installments of that set before a 3-0 win in the Monday finale. After a 4-3 loss to the Cubs on Tuesday, in game two the Braves bagged six runs in the seventh inning on the way to a 9-2 win. Starting pitcher Max Fried went the distance with one earned, three hits, no walks and nine Ks over 9.0 frames.
As starter in the Thursday finale the Braves will send out AJ Smith-Shawver. This will be Smith-Shawver’s season debut. He’s 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in six career games (five starts). The Braves will take on the Pirates, Nationals, and A’s after this series.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
Over on the Cubs’ side, they took on the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend. Chicago also lost three of four games, winning only Saturday 1-0. The Cubs got back to business with a Tuesday win, then in Wednesday’s matchup Chicago had only three hits in the defeat. Justin Steele went 6.1 innings in the start with five earned, six hits and a walk.
In the starter slot Thursday for the Cubs it’ll be Ben Brown. This year Brown is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA in 11 games (four starts). Brown has 39 Ks in 35.1 innings total.
Braves vs Cubs Injury Notes
Braves catcher Sean Murphy (oblique) played seven innings and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in his first rehab game Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Cubs RP Adbert Alzolay (forearm) will receive a second opinion on his flexor strain. RP Drew Smyly (hip) made a rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend.
Total Runs Facts
- Five of the Braves’ last six games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the last six games between the Braves and Cubs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last five home games.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Braves’ last five road games against National League opponents.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Ian Happ has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cubs’ last four day games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Ian Happ has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last eight games at Wrigley Field against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Ian Happ has recorded at least one total base in each of the Cubs’ last eight games at Wrigley Field against opponents that held a winning record.
- Cody Bellinger has hit a home run in five of his last 12 appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.
- Yan Gomes has recorded an RBI in three of his last four appearances against the Braves.
- Seiya Suzuki has scored at least one run in nine of his last 11 home appearances after playing the previous day.
Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts
- Matt Olson has recorded a Single in each of the Braves’ last four day games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Orlando Arcia has recorded a Double in four of the Braves’ last five games at Wrigley Field against opponents that held a winning record.
- Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one hit in each of the Braves’ last 13 games against NL opponents.
- Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one total base in each of the Braves’ last 13 games against NL opponents.
- Jarred Kelenic has hit a home run in three of his four previous appearances against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
- Matt Olson has recorded at least one RBI in six of the Braves’ last seven day games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Michael Harris has scored at least one run in each of the Braves’ last six road games against NL Central opponents.
Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves Prediction
I’ll try a stab on the Cubs here. Probably not touching this one, though. Brown has been pretty good in limited action during his rookie campaign. In his last three outings Brown is 1-0 with one earned in 7.2 combined frames on seven hits and two walks. He probably won’t be out there for too long Thursday though, so the pen will need to come through.
In Wednesday’s matchup Chicago really only had the one bad inning on defense but their bats didn’t help matters either. The Cubs will need a much more well-rounded effort in the finale, which will be tough against a rested Atlanta pen.