The Chicago Cubs are set to host the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. This NL matchup will begin at 2:20 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Chicago will be televising the game.
Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Braves are 8-5 SU and have gone 9-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 4.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 6.4 units ATS. Atlanta’s covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Cubs are 6-7 SU and 6-6 ATS. They’ve lost 4.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 0.1 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Cubs games have an over/under record of 5-7 so far in 2018. Braves games have gone under five times, gone over four times and pushed on three occasions.
The Braves have gained 1.4 units and are 1-0 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in zero of those games, compared to one that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 2.0 units and are 2-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to three which went under the total.
Sean Newcomb (1-1, 4.35 ERA) will get the nod for Atlanta. The southpaw Newcomb struck out 108 hitters in 99 innings last year with 57 walks but finished the season 4-9 overall with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He made two starts against the Cubs in 2017 and put together a 0-2 record against them with a 6.10 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
The Cubs are turning to lefty Jose Quintana (1-1, 4.50 ERA), who struck out 207 hitters across 188 innings last year (32 starts). Quintana finished the season 11-11 overall with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.
As a unit, Chicago’s pitchers have given up 3.8 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have a 4.67 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 2.01 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.
Chicago’s offense is putting up 4.5 runs per outing, including 3.9 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .256/.308/.465 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Third baseman Kris Bryant and second baseman Javier Baez have led the Cubs’ offense this year. Bryant is slashing .333/.469/.588 with 17 hits, eight RBIs and seven runs scored, while Baez is batting .190 with eight hits, 10 RBIs and 10 runs.
Baez enjoyed hitting against lefty pitching at home last season. Across 58 such plate appearances, he slashed .358/.397/.679 (a drop from his overall season line of .273/.317/.480).
In the visiting dugout, Atlanta’s pitchers have allowed 3.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.90 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 9.27 K/9. The bullpen has logged an excellent ERA of just 1.34, along with a K/9 of 9.06.
The Braves offense has slashed .261/.344/.439 on its way to 5.5 runs scored per game this year, including 4.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Atlanta’s hitters have been led by first baseman Freddie Freeman and shortstop Dansby Swanson. Freeman is hitting .311/.492/.578 with 14 hits, 11 RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Swanson is hitting .340/.377/.560 with 17 hits, eight RBIs and five runs scored.
Freeman didn’t do especially well against left-handed pitching in 2017. Over 143 plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .278/.357/.524 (his total season line was .307/.403/.586).
Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Braves, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Braves have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
Atlanta has posted 21.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 18.0 over its last five.
The Cubs have lost three of their last four games SU.
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