The Chicago Cubs will travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves in the first of a four-game set on Monday night. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Cubs-Braves prediction and pick.

Both teams have struggled of late as each has lost their last two games and both have struggled to produce any offense. Atlanta has been shutout in two straight games and Chicago has scored just three runs in their last two as well.

Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Cubs-Braves odds.

MLB Odds: Cubs-Braves Odds

Chicago Cubs +1.5 (-135)

Atlanta Braves -1.5 (+115)

Over 8.5 Runs (-110)

Under 8.5 Runs (-110)

Why The Cubs Could Cover The Spread

The Chicago Cubs have been the epitome of a mediocre club as they are 10-11 overall and are coming off of a tough two-game losing streak. Prior to the current struggles, the Cubs had won their last four games by a combined 28 runs. They scored at least 15 runs in two of the four games and didn’t allow more than four runs in any of them. Chicago hasn’t been great on the road this year, but Atlanta has been horrendous at home. The Braves are 1-9 ATS in Atlanta on the young season. The Cubs offense will look to get back on track against Charlie Morton, who has lost each of his last two starts coming in.

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Chicago will send out Zach Davies for the fifth time this season. The Cubs won the last game with Davies on the bump despite only getting four innings from the right-hander. Davies hasn’t been very good this season, going 1-2 with a 8.80 ERA to start the 2021 campaign. The last time Davies saw the Braves was earlier this month. He gave up four runs in four innings in a 5-2 loss.

Why The Braves Could Cover The Spread

The Atlanta Braves have been one of the streakiest teams in Major League Baseball in 2021. The uncharacteristic start cannot be what this team hoped for in a crowded National League East division. The Braves have been a roller-coaster team this year, going 4-4 over their last eight games coming in. They haven’t scored in either of their last two games, but are in a good spot to bounce back against a Cubs team that they have seen success against in the past. Atlanta has scored over six runs per game in their last 10 head-to-head matchup’s and are 4-1 SU in their last five games against Chicago.

Atlanta right-hander Charlie Morton will get the ball for the fifth time this season. Morton’s last start against the New York Yankees was an impressive one. Morton went six innings and allowed just one run against the Bronx Bombers. The Braves right-hander has had a quality start to the season, going 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA in 23 innings of work. Charlie Morton has gone at least six innings in each of his past three starts and will almost certainly go deep into the opener against the Cubs as the MLB odds suggest as well for this matchup.

Final Cubs-Braves Prediction & Pick

Despite the recent struggles, I like the Atlanta Braves in this game for a few reasons. For starters, the Braves definitely have the edge in the pitching matchup. Charlie Morton can be a dominant arm at times and gets to go up against a Cubs lineup that has struggled recently. I also like Atlanta because of their recent track record against Chicago. Atlanta is destined to get their season back on track and a successful four-game set against the Cubs would be a great start.

FINAL PICK: Atlanta Braves ML (-175)