The Chicago Cubs (24-17) travel to face off against the Atlanta Braves (24-13) on Monday, May 13th. This game will be played at Truist Park in Atlanta and televised on MARQ. The Cubs are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Braves are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Mets. First pitch is set for 7:20 ET.
Cubs vs Braves
Heading into their last game vs. the Pirates, the Cubs closed out the series with a 5-4 win. Leading up to the game, they were the slight favorite at -119 on the money line. It was a three-run 10th inning that really turned things in their favor, and the Pirates could only score two runs in the bottom of the 10th to pick up the win.
Kyle Hendricks put together a good start for the Cubs, going five innings and giving up just one earned run, and picking up the win. Chicago’s offense was carried by Patrick Wisdom, who went 3/4 with a homer and three RBIs.
Chicago is 24-17 overall and is 2nd in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by just a half-game. The Cubs are 4-2 in divisional games, and they won their series vs. the Pirates.
On the road, the Cubs are 11-11 compared to a 13-6 mark at home. As the underdog, the Cubs are 13-11 this year and 11-6 when favored. Chicago’s overall series record is 7-4-2, and they are 5-5 in their last ten games.
When the Cubs win, they win big, with an average run margin of 3.2 runs. When they lose, they lose big, with an average run margin of -3.5 runs. Overall, they have a run line record of 24-17, including a 14-8 record on the road. As the underdog, they are 18-6 against the run line, and as the favorite, they are just 6-11.
Chicago Cubs’ games have had an average of 9.1 runs scored per game this season, and their over/under record is 18-21. Their games have had an average over/under line of 8 runs, and when the line has been set at 8 runs, the over/under record is 1-5. 43.9% of their games have had over/under lines set higher than 8 runs, and 41.5% have had lines set lower than 8 runs. Their most recent game had a combined 9 runs scored, which pushed the over/under line of 9 runs.
Shota Imanaga Gets The Start For The Cubs
Chicago is sending Shota Imanaga to the mound today vs. the Braves, and he has been excellent this season. Imanaga has made seven starts and has a record of 5-0. His ERA for the season is 1.08, along with a WHIP of .82. Imanaga has made five quality starts this year and is coming off an outing in which he went seven innings and gave up two earned runs. In that outing, he gave up one homer. Imanaga has allowed a homer in three straight outings. Per nine innings, Imanaga has 9.29 strikeouts and just 1.08 walks.
Cubs Offense Breakdown
Christopher Morel has been swinging a hot bat for the Cubs of late, going 9/30 in his last nine games with four homers and 10 RBIs. Morel’s nine homers this season is 5th in the league and leads the Cubs. Cody Bellinger and Michael Busch are tied for 2nd on the team with seven homers apiece.
As a team, the Cubs are 10th in scoring at 4.8 runs per game. They also have the league’s 9th ranked home run total. So far, they have been a good home team, averaging 4.9 runs per game. Overall, they are batting .238, which is 13th in the league.
The Braves will be looking to get back on track after closing out their series vs. the Mets with a 4-3 loss. This was especially tough, as they held a lead going into the 8th inning before the Mets scored two runs in the bottom of the 8th. Atlanta was the -108 favorite on the money line going into the game.
Bryce Elder got the start for the Braves and took the loss. He only lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits. Atlanta’s offense was carried by Jarred Kelenic, who went 1/3 with a homer and scored three runs.
With a record of 24-13, the Braves are two games behind the Phillies for the NL East lead. The Braves host the Cubs today, and they are 10-5 against other teams in the NL East this year. The Braves took two of three from the Mets in their most recent series.
At home, the Braves have gone 13-4 this year, and they are 11-9 on the road. As the favorite, the Braves have gone 24-10, but they are 0-3 as the underdog this year. Atlanta has won four straight games as the favorite, and they have an overall series record of 9-3-1 this year.
Atlanta has been a solid play on the run line this season, going 20-17 overall. They have been even better on the road, going 12-8, compared to 8-9 at home. The Braves have been favored in 34 games, going 18-16 on the run line, and they have covered in four straight games when favored. Their average run differential in wins is +3.5, while it is -3.1 in losses.
The Braves have gone under the total in six straight games and in eight of their last ten games. The Braves’ over/under record for the season is 12-23, and their games have averaged 8.7 runs per game. The over/under line for today’s game is set at 8 runs.
Reynaldo López Gets The Start For The Braves
Reynaldo López gets the start for the Braves today and has made six appearances this year, coming away with a record of 2-1 and ERA of 1.53. He has made four quality starts this year and is coming off an outing where he finished with a no-decision. In that start vs. the Red Sox, López went 5 1/3 innings, giving up one earned run, and two hits. Looking back across his last four outings, he has given up a total of two earned runs. The right-hander has been especially tough at home, with an ERA of 0.99 compared to 2.3 on the road.
Braves Offense Breakdown
Marcell Ozuna has been the league’s top run producer so far this season, as his 40 RBIs are the best in the league. He also comes into the game with a six-game hitting streak and has three homers in his last 10 games. During this stretch, he is batting .314. Overall, Ozuna is batting .326 for the season. Travis d’Arnaud is also swinging a hot bat for the Braves, as he is on a three-game hitting streak and is batting .270 for the season.
As a team, the Braves are 6th in scoring at 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.1 runs per contest. Overall, they are one of the top home run hitting teams in the league and have a team batting average of .253.
Cubs vs Braves Prediction
There are a few different ways you could look to bet on this game, but we recommend sticking with the money line and taking the Braves at -146. We actually have the Braves winning this one 6-5, and with the payout at -146, this is a good value pick.
Offensively, the Braves lineup is looking strong, and they have one of the best home run projections of any team today. As for the Cubs, they are projected to finish with just eight hits, which is the sixth-lowest in the league.
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 13, 2024 Braves, Cubs