Chicago Cubs (56-54) vs Atlanta Braves (70-37)
Game Info: Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 2:20 pm (Wrigley Field)
Javier Assad (1-2) (3.24) vs Bryce Elder (8-2) (3.18)
Betting Odds: Chicago Cubs +124 / Atlanta Braves -148 --- Over/Under: 11 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Atlanta Braves will play the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of their series on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Atlanta welcomed Max Fried off of the IL on Friday and he pitched a gem. The Braves won Game 1 by a score of 8-0 and continue to be one of the best teams in baseball. Chicago is hanging around in the race for the NL Central and they have played great baseball over the last couple of weeks.
Braves Preview
The Atlanta Braves are 70-37 this season and they have won six of their last seven games. Atlanta is coming off of a series win against the Angels at home, where they won two out of three games. The Braves have hit the ball extremely well in recent games, scoring eight runs or more in five of their last seven games. The Atlanta pitching staff has a 3.81 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a .242 opponent batting average this year. The Braves offense has scored 609 runs with a .270 batting average and a .339 on base percentage. Ronald Acuna is batting .338 with 25 home runs and 65 RBI’s for the Braves. The projected starting pitcher for Atlanta is Bryce Elder, who is 8-2 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 121.2 innings pitched this season.
Cubs Preview
The Chicago Cubs are 56-54 this season and they have won 11 of their last 14 games. Chicago is coming off of a series win against Cincinnati, where they won three out of four games. The Cubs had a great offensive series against the Reds, scoring 46 runs in four games, but couldn’t get much going in Game 1 of this series. The Chicago pitching staff has a 4.11 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a .244 opponent batting average. The Cubs offense has scored 560 runs with a .257 batting average and a .334 on base percentage this season. Dansby Swanson is batting .263 with 16 home runs and 51 RBI’s for the Cubs. The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Javier Assad, who is 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 50.0 innings pitched this year.
Chicago Cubs Team Facts
- The Cubs have won five of their last six games as home underdogs against the Braves following a home loss.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five games as underdogs against NL East opponents.
- The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games against NL East opponents that held a winning record.
- The Cubs have won the first inning in each of their last three Saturday games as underdogs against the Braves at Wrigley Field.
- The Cubs have led after 7 innings in six of their last eight games as underdogs.
Atlanta Braves Team Facts
- The Braves have won each of their last 11 day games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Braves have covered the run line each of their last six day games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
- The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Braves' last three road games against National League opponents.
- The Braves have led after 5 innings in each of their last six Saturday games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Dansby Swanson has hit at least one home run in three of the Cubs' last five games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 17 home appearances against NL opponents.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Cubs' last five games as home underdogs.
- Nico Hoerner has scored at least one run in each of his last four appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Yan Gomes has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts
- Travis d'Arnaud has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last seven appearances with the Braves as road favourites against NL Central opponents.
- Ozzie Albies has scored at least one run in each of the Braves' last 13 games against NL Central opponents.
- Marcell Ozuna has hit at least one home run in each of the Braves' last four games as favourites against NL Central opponents.
- Michael Harris has recorded at least one hit in each of the Braves' last 11 games against NL opponents.
- Travis d'Arnaud has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last eight appearances with the Braves as favourites against NL Central opponents.
- Matt Olson ranks 2nd in the league in Home Runs (37) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 4th in the league for on-base percentage this season (.334).
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 5th in the league for RBI's this season (538).
- The Atlanta Braves ranks 2nd in the league for batting average this season (.270).
- The Atlanta Braves ranks 2nd in the league for on-base percentage this season (.339).
Pick
The Braves came into Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon and absolutely dominated the Cubs in Game 1. Atlanta will look to make it two in a row in the series with Bryce Elder on the mound, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in two straight starts, but did allow 12 earned runs in the previous two starts. Chicago is starting Javier Assad, who has allowed 0 runs over his last 11.1 innings of work. Elder has bounced back in his last two starts and while Assad has been solid, he will only pitch a couple of innings. I am going to take Atlanta at this reasonable price.
David’s Pick Braves ML
AUTHOR: David Racey
Mitch's Take...
