The Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs meet in game two of their three-game MLB weekend series from Wrigley Field on Friday night. The Braves drew first blood in a big way on Friday, can they go back-to-back here? Let’s dig in and find out.
Braves Destroy Cubs In Opener
The Atlanta Braves made it look easy in Friday’s series opener, taking down the Cubs in an 8-0 shutout win. The win pushed the Braves up to a record of 70-37 on the year, now sitting 12.5 games clear of the Phillies atop the NL East. Ronald Acuna Jr. leads the Braves with 144 hits and a .338 batting average along with 51 stolen bases to lead MLB in that category. Acuna Jr. also has 25 homers and 65 RBIs while Matt Olson leads the Braves with 37 home runs and 92 RBIs this season. Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley make up the other three Braves bats with 20+ HR so far this season. Bryce Elder will get the start here for Atlanta and is 8-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 89 strikeouts this season.
Atlanta Braves Team Facts
- The Braves have won each of their last 11 day games against National League opponents.
- The Braves have covered the run line in each of their last six day games against National League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Braves’ last three games as road favourites against NL Central opponents.
- The Braves have led after 5 innings in each of their last six Saturday games against opponents that held a winning record.
- The Braves have trailed after 7 innings in three of their last four games as road favourites.
Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts
- Marcell Ozuna has hit at least one home run in each of the Braves’ last four games against NL Central opponents.
- Travis d’Arnaud has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last eight appearances with the Braves as favourites against NL Central opponents.
- Ozzie Albies has scored at least one run in each of the Braves’ last 14 games as favourites against NL Central opponents.
- Michael Harris has recorded at least one hit in each of the Braves’ last 11 games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Travis d’Arnaud has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last eight appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Ronald Acuna Jr. ranks 1st in the league in Steals (51) this season.
Cubs Come Out Flat On Friday
The Chicago Cubs had a big chance to open some eyes in Friday’s series opener, but they opened them for all of the wrong reasons as Atlanta showed the Cubs they weren’t at that level yet. The Cubs’ loss dropped Chicago to 56-54 on the year, sitting 2.5 games back in the NL Central and 2 games back in the NL Wild Card race as well. Nico Hoerner leads the Cubbies with 119 hits and 58 RBIs in addition to a .277 batting average this season while Patrick Wisdom has belted a team-high 19 home runs for the Cubs this season. Ian Happ also leads the Cubs in two-baggers with 23 doubles this season. Javier Assad is slated to get the start for the Cubs on Saturday and is 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA and 40 strikeouts this season.
Chicago Cubs Team Facts
- The Cubs have won each of their last four games as underdogs following a loss.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in seven of their last eight day games against NL East opponents following a home loss.
- The Cubs have won the first inning in each of their last three Saturday games as underdogs against the Braves.
- The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six games as home underdogs against NL East opponents.
- The Cubs have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last five day games against NL East opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Chicago Cubs ranks T3rd in the league for walks this season (395).
- The Chicago Cubs are one of only 3 teams in the league to rank top 10 in both steals and batting average this season.
- The Atlanta Braves ranks 1st in the league for home runs this season (209).
- The Atlanta Braves ranks 1st in the league for slugging percentage this season (.499).
Chris’ Pick
I have to side with the Braves here. Elder has had his moments on the road this season, but for the most part he’s been pretty solid, posting a sub-three ERA away from home. I’m not sure what we’re going to get from Assad here and the Braves just looked like they woke up in a big way in Friday’s win. I’ll side with Atlanta to take game two.
