The Atlanta Braves will attempt to avoid a series sweep as they face the Chicago Cubs in the finale at Wrigley Field on Sunday. It's time to continue our MLB odds coverage with a Braves-Cubs prediction and pick.
The Cubs defeated the Braves 6-3 on Saturday. Chicago struck in the first inning when Jonathan Villar clipped an RBI doubler that drove in two runners. Later, the Cubs led 3-0 when Jason Heyward added an RBI double to the ledger, building a 4-0 lead for the Cubbies. The Braves fought back in the fifth when Adam Duvall blasted a solo home run to right-center to put the Braves on the board. The Cubs led 5-2 in the seventh inning when Rafael Ortega delivered a solo home run to right field. The Cubs had all the runs they needed.
The Braves got an uneven outing from Kyle Wright, who went six innings, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits. Justin Steele lasted five innings for the Cubs, allowing two earned runs on five hits. The Braves are 37-29 and in second place in the NL East. Meanwhile, the Cubs are 25-40 and in fourth place in the NL Central. The Cubs are attempting to sweep the Braves for the first time since 2017, and the first time at Wrigley Field since 2015.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Braves-Cubs odds:
MLB odds: Braves-Cubs Odds
Braves: -1.5 (+104)
Cubs: +1.5 (-125)
Over: 9 (-108)
Under: 9 (-112)
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Why The Braves Could Cover The Spread
The Braves will roll with Ian Anderson on the hill. Anderson has not had the best season, going 5-3 with a 4.81 ERA. He lasted four innings in his last outing, allowing four earned runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Anderson is inconsistent and saw his ERA rise to 4.81. Additionally, he has allowed four earned runs in four of his five previous starts. Anderson must regain control of his pitches and shut down the Cubs. However, he has a strong bullpen behind him.
The Braves rank fourth in the majors in bullpen ERA. The run they allowed yesterday broke a three-game streak of shutdown pitching. Atlanta's bullpen must recover and bounce back, as they likely might need to work a little more today. The offense might need to support them by padding some runs.
The Braves offense is 13th in batting average, 15th in on-base percentage, eighth in runs, second in home runs, and first in slugging percentage. Atlanta is a boom-or-bust offense with plenty of firepower. Austin Riley leads them with 18 home runs and 40 RBIs. However, Riley went 0 for 3 in yesterday's contest and will attempt to bounce back today. Marcell Ozuna is their next best threat, slamming 12 home runs and 26 RBIs. Additionally, he went 0 for 4 in yesterday's contest and will need to provide a better effort in the finale. Matt Olson has eight home runs and 31 RBIs, yet struggled to hit the mark yesterday, going 0 for 4. The Braves left eight runners stranded on the base paths.
The Braves will cover the spread if Anderson can give them five quality innings. Likewise, the bullpen behind him must pitch efficiently and the hitting must pick up.
Why The Cubs Could Cover The Spread
The Cubs are going with Kyle Hendricks on the hill. Hendricks is 2-5 with a 4.95 ERA. He has not pitched well at all and is no longer the reliable starter he once was. Hendricks did pitch five innings in his last outing, allowing one earned run on four hits and six strikeouts. Alternatively, he has not gone past five innings since May 15. Hendricks must pick up the slack because the bullpen behind him is shaky. The Cubs are 29th in bullpen ERA. Additionally, they struggle even in victories, as they allowed a run in the ninth. Chicago needs its pitching staff to hit the mark and get help from the bats.
The Cubs rank 13th in batting average, 12th in on-base percentage, 22nd in runs, 17th in home runs, and 16th in slugging percentage. Willson Contreras was awesome yesterday, going 3 for 5. However, the Cubbies still left eight runners stranded. Chicago must do better to ensure they achieve its potential.
The Cubs will cover the spread if Hendricks can give them a good outing, and the offense gives them the lead. This bullpen is not trustworthy with a tight lead or a tie game, so the Cubs must do what they can to strike early and often.
Final Braves-Cubs Prediction & Pick
The Braves are in an unfamiliar position. They have not faced a sweep at the hands of the Cubs in a long time. Thus, they must find a way to avoid it. Expect the bats to awaken and the Braves' offense to put some runs on the board.
Final Braves-Cubs Prediction & Pick: Braves: -1.5 (+104)
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