The Chicago Cubs (24-19) travel to face off against the Atlanta Braves (26-13) on Wednesday, May 15th. This game will be played at Truist Park in Atlanta and televised on BSSO. The Braves are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Cubs are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Braves. First pitch is set for 7:20 ET.
Cubs vs Braves
The most recent game o of this Cubs and Braves series came right after the All-Star break. Atlanta went into the matchup as the heavy favorites at -196 on the money line and they did not disappoint, picking up a 7-0 win. Heading into the game, the Cubs were at +166.
Chris Sale started for the Braves and picked up the win, going seven innings and not giving up a run. He finished the game with nine strikeouts but did not issue a walk. Jameson Taillon got the start for the Cubs and took the loss, giving up two earned runs in four innings of work.
Matt Olson and Michael Harris II each homered for the Braves, while Ozzie Albies scored twice and drove in two runs while going 2/4. Olson, Harris, and Albies combined for six of Atlanta’s seven runs.
With an overall record of 24-19, the Cubs are 2nd in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by 1.5 games. The Cubs have dropped two straight games, and these losses have come after going 4-0. So far, they have been good against other teams in the NL Central, putting up a record of 4-2.
Chicago has been good at home this year, going 13-6. But on the road, they are just 11-13. As the underdog, the Cubs’ overall record is 13-13 compared to an 11-6 mark as the favorite. Their overall series record is 7-4-2.
The Cubs have been a solid bet against the run line this season, with a record of 24-19. They have been especially good on the road, going 14-10. Their average run margin is just +0.2 runs per game, but they have been a better bet as the underdog, going 18-8 vs. the run line.
The Cubs have seen their last two games go under the total, but their over/under record for the season is just 18-23. The average over/under line for their games is 8 runs, but today’s line is set at 8.5 runs. The Cubs have played in 10 games with lines set at 8.5 runs, and the over has hit in five of those games. Overall, 58.1% of their games have had lower lines than today’s 8.5-run total.
Javier Assad Gets The Start For The Cubs
Through eight starts, Javier Assad has a record of 3-0 and an ERA of 1.70 for the Cubs. He has made two quality starts this year and is coming off an outing in which he gave up just one earned run in 4 1/3 innings of work. In that outing, he gave up two homers. Against the Braves today, Assad will look to pitch more like he did on May 5th, when he went six innings, didn’t give up an earned run, and got the win. Opponents are batting .204 off Assad this year, and his WHIP is 1.06.
Cubs Offense Breakdown
Chicago comes into the game as one of the league’s top home run hitting teams, and they are also among the league leaders in team RBIs. As a team, they are batting just .234, which is 16th in the league. However, they have been good at drawing walks and have a team on-base percentage of .317.
Christopher Morel leads the Cubs in RBIs and is 5th in the league in home runs, but he is batting just .219 for the season. However, he has gone 5/18 in his last five games with a home run. Cody Bellinger and Michael Busch are both tied for 2nd on the team with seven homers, with Busch having 20 RBIs (3rd on the team) and Bellinger at 21 RBIs (2nd on the team).
With an overall record of 26-13, the Braves are 2nd in the NL East, two games behind the Phillies for the division lead. The Braves have won two straight games, and they are 10-5 against other teams in the NL East this year.
So far, the Braves have been really good at home, going 15-4 compared to 11-9 on the road. This season, the Braves have been favored in 36 of their games, and they are 26-10 in those games. As for how they have done as the underdog, they are 0-3. Atlanta has won two straight series and has an overall series record of 9-3-1.
The Braves have been a solid bet on the run line this season, going 22-17 overall. They are 10-9 at home on the run line and have covered in four straight games at home. Atlanta has an average run margin of 1.4 runs per game this season, and they have been favored in 36 of their 38 games. Their average run margin in wins is 3.6 runs per game, while it drops to -3.1 runs per game in losses.
The Braves have gone under the total in eight straight games, and the over/under line for today’s game is 8.5 runs. The Braves have gone under that total in seven of their last ten games, and their games this season have averaged 8.5 runs per game. Their over/under record for the season is 12-25, and the average over/under line in their games is 9 runs. Their games have had an over/under line of 8.5 runs in 10 games this season, and the over/under record in those games is 3-7. Overall, 46.2% of their games have had an over/under line of 8.5 runs or higher.
Charlie Morton Gets The Start For The Braves
Charlie Morton gets the start for the Braves today as he faces off against the Cubs at home. He has made seven starts this year and has a record of 3-0 with an ERA of 3.14. Opposing batters are hitting .203 this year off Morton, and he has turned in four quality starts. In his last outing, Morton picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up just one earned run. He has allowed a homer in three straight outings. Morton’s ERA at home is 3.12 compared to 3.45 on the road.
Braves Offense Breakdown
Marcell Ozuna comes into the game as the league’s top RBI man, as his 41 runs batted in is also the best mark on the Braves. He is also near the top of the league in home runs, with 12 long balls. Ozuna has been hot of late, going 12/34 in his last 10 games, with three homers. He is also on an eight-game hitting streak. Matt Olson and Travis d’Arnaud are both tied for 2nd on the team with five homers apiece.
Overall, the Braves have been one of the league’s top offenses, as they are 6th in runs per game, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .255, which is the 5th best mark in the league. They have also been good at avoiding strikeouts this season.
Cubs vs Braves Prediction
Our prediction for the Braves vs. Cubs game is to take the over, with the line sitting at 8.5 runs. Our predicted final score is 6-5 in favor of the Braves, giving us some room if you wanted to take the run line.
Looking at the starting pitchers, Charlie Morton is projected to finish with seven strikeouts, and he is a solid option if you are looking at some strikeout props. As for Javier Assad, we have him finishing with four K’s.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:May 15, 2024 Braves, Cubs