The Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs are both on track for a spot in the MLB playoffs, but both teams will be keen to secure a series-clinching victory when they meet at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night.
The Cubs won the opening contest 7-3 on Monday and were leading 3-0 after five innings on Tuesday, but the Braves rallied to win 6-3 and square the series.
The Braves (89-63) hold a 5.5-game lead in the National League East with 10 games left, while the Cubs (84-68) are comfortably in second place in the National League Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers, who have already clinched the division.
Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs betting picks and predictions
Cubs -1.5 run line (+150)
Both these teams are on course for the playoffs, and that may be affecting their recent play, as neither arrives for the series decider at Wrigley Field in convincing form.
The Braves have won only half of their last 10 games, and the Cubs have been successful in just four of their last 10. However, the home side looks to have a pitching edge for the final game of this series, and the Cubs can secure a second straight 2-1 series victory after beating the Pittsburgh Pirates by that score last week.
The Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in their previous series but lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 before that.
Atlanta has pitching staff issues heading into this contest, though, and with Reynaldo Lopez out of action with a shoulder injury and AJ Smith-Shawver demoted to the bullpen, they called up AJ Ritchie, who had been playing for Triple-A club Gwinnett, to start in Chicago.
Ritchie has been in good form at the lower level, but he has not made an MLB appearance since August 2nd. The Braves won that game against the Nationals 4-2, but he pitched only four innings and has not gone more than 4.1 innings at this level since June.
The Cubs have a far more trustworthy starting pitcher heading to the hill tonight in Shota Imanaga, who has pitched more innings for the team this season than any other player.
Imanaga has posted 13 quality starts in 29 games - five more than any other Cubs pitcher - and has gone 6.0 innings in each of his last two starts, which were a 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins and a 12-2 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ritchie has promise, but asking the 23-year-old to go up against MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong and the rest of the Cubs lineup may be too much, and the Cubs are worth backing to cover the -1.5 run line.
Over 8.0 total runs (+100)
The first two games in the series have produced totals of 10 and nine runs, and a third successive game with over eight runs looks likely at Wrigley Field.
Ritchie may hand over to the Braves bullpen relatively early, and while Imanaga should give the Cubs decent length, the bullpen has become a real problem for the home side, and their confidence in that area won't be any higher after the visitors scored the final six runs in Tuesday's game.
The Cubs have played 11 straight games with at least seven runs scored, while the Braves' last five have all produced nine or more runs. Another entertaining encounter is expected.
Nico Hoerner 2+ total bases (+165)
Crow-Armstrong deservedly gets all the headlines for the Cubs after his 42 home runs this season, but second baseman Nico Hoerner is only seven behind PCA's tally of 164 hits and remains in solid form.
Hoerner had an RBI in five successive games before drawing a blank on Tuesday. However, he is worth backing to record two or more bases on Wednesday against an inexperienced opposing starter.
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Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
Atlanta Braves | +120 ML |
Chicago Cubs | -140 ML |
Run Line | Cubs -1.5 (+150) |
Total | O/U 8.0 |
Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs player props
Player Home Run Odds
Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHI Cubs) | +375 |
Matt Olson (ATL Braves) | +375 |
Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL Braves) | +400 |
Austin Riley (ATL Braves) | +500 |
Drake Baldwin (ATL Braves) | +525 |
Alex Bregman (CHI Cubs) | +650 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
