The Braves Are The Best Bet Against the Surprising Cubs
The Cubs vs Braves Series Odds Favor Atlanta To Keep on Rolling At Home
Two of the MLB’s Best Pitchers Are Set to Square Off In Monday’s Series Opener
The Chicago Cubs have already played in 11 one-run games in May and the month isn’t even halfway over as they prepare to face one of the teams expected to contend for the National League title. The Cubs vs Braves series odds favor host Atlanta with the series opener being the 16th consecutive time that Atlanta is favored at home against the Cubs.
The Braves have won five of the last seven games against the Cubs, and five of the last eight have finished over the total.
The best MLB bets today have the visiting Braves favored to win the series opener with the Cubs. The Braves are priced at -144 to win on Monday compared to +129 odds for the Cubs.
When looking at futures odds, Atlanta is second at +450 odds of winning the World Series. The championship odds for the Cubs have moved from +3500 to +2500 since the start of the season.
Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves 
Day/Time:
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Streaming: MLB Network
Cubs vs Braves Probable Starting Pitchers
Monday: Shota Imanaga (Cubs); Reynaldo Lopez (Braves)
Tuesday: Hayden Wesneski (Cubs); Chris Sale (Braves)
Wednesday: Javier Assad (Cubs); Charlie Morton (Braves)
Hitters Might Have Their Hands Full
It might be hard to find a better showdown of starting pitchers than Monday’s clash in this series. MLB ERA leader Shota Imanaga will be going for the Cubs against Reynaldo Lopez, who isn’t far behind with a 1.53 ERA. After allowing two runs in his first four starts, Lopez has surrendered five runs in 10 1/3 innings in his last two outings.
Atlanta turns to lefty Chris Sale on Tuesday. He has allowed two runs in his last two starts. Hayden Wesneski (2-1, 1.59 ERA) is slated to start that game for the visiting Cubs. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Cubs vs Braves series odds.
It could be another strong pitching matchup in the series finale as Javier Assad (3-0, 1.70 ERA) and Charlie Morton (3-0, 3.14 ERA) both look to remain undefeated.
Marcell Ozuna has been the best hitter for the Braves in May with a .286 batting average and an OPS mark of 1.018 thanks to three of his eight hits being home runs.
Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger could be a popular MLB prop pick as he is 7-for-17 with two doubles, and two home runs in his first four games after missing two weeks of action.
Five of the last seven games for the Cubs against National League East teams went under the total.
History Not on the Cubs’ Side
It has been six years since the Cubs have been favored on the road against the Braves and seven years since they last won a road series in Atlanta. That could factor into the Cubs vs Braves series odds.
After the Cubs won six consecutive games in Atlanta from 2016-18, they haven’t posted back-to-back victories since. The Braves are 11-3 in their last 14 home games against the Cubs with Chicago covering against the run line in five of those matchups.
Atlanta has won four home games in a row against the Cubs.
The last time the Cubs won a series in Atlanta, their starting pitchers were Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Mike Montgomery.
Atlanta has seen its last six games go under the total.
Who’s Hot
- Javier Assad, Chicago Cubs P: Assad hasn’t allowed more than two runs in each of his eight appearances this season.
- Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs IF: Hoerner is 13-for-42 with seven runs, six extra-base hits, and five RBIs over the last 11 games.
- Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves DH: Ozuna is 10-for-21, four runs, four home runs, and eight RBIs in his last six games.
- Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves P: Sale has surrendered 14 hits and two runs with 25 strikeouts in 18 innings over his last three starts.
Who’s Not
- Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves IF: Albies is 2-for-27 with six strikeouts over his last seven games.
- Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs IF: Busch is 3-for-22 with 15 strikeouts in his last seven games.
- Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves P: Iglesias has given up four hits and three runs in four innings over his last four games.
- Richard Lovelady, Chicago Cubs P: Lovelady has allowed six hits and five runs in 2.1 innings in his last four games.
Injury Update
Shortstop Dansby Swanson, who spent his first seven MLB seasons with the Braves and is a Georgia native, is on the injured list for the Cubs along with pitchers Yency Almonte, Drew Smyly, Julian Merryweather, and Jordan Wicks.
Catcher Sean Murphy hasn’t played since the season opener for the Braves but he is close to returning. Pitchers Pierce Johnson, Tyler Matzek, and Angel Perdomo are on the injured list.
Cubs vs Braves Betting Preview
Atlanta was 23-10 in its 33 games as a favorite with the Braves expected to be favored in all three games in this series.
Atlanta Braves won 13 of its first 17 home games with Marcell Ozuna (.373 batting average, five home runs, 21 RBIs) and Travis d’Arnaud (.349, five home runs, 14 RBIs) leading the way. Seven pitchers for the Braves have an ERA under 2.00 at home. Imanaga and Wesneski have combined to allow two earned runs in 26.2 innings on the road for the Cubs.
Both teams are calling on their big guns to shut things down and that could result in plenty of the early money going on these games to land under the total.
The Cubs are 15-7 against the run line on the road. Just six of Atlanta’s first 17 home games went over the total.
Chicago covered against the run line in 15 of 22 road games.
The Braves and the Cubs are a combined 38-20 against right-handed starting pitchers.
There is nearly a 50% chance of rain for the series opener on Monday so perhaps that might slow down the Braves.
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