Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves odds, picks and predictions

The Chicago Cubs (27-15) and Atlanta Braves (29-13) continue their 3-game series Wednesday between first-place teams at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. First pitch for this middle contest is slated for 7:15 p.m. ET. Let's analyze MLB odds around the Cubs vs. Braves odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Braves lead 1-0

Four Atlanta pitchers held the Cubs to 1 hit in Tuesday's 5-2 series-opening win for the slightly favored Braves (-122) as the Under (8.5) cashed. The lone hit was a Cubs 3B Alex Bregman's fourth-inning solo homer, which tied the game at 1-1. Braves SP Grant Holmes (4 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 5 K) walked the next 3 batters before a fielder's choice gave Chicago a short-lived 2-1 lead.

The Braves took control with a 4-run bottom of the fifth, starting with a leadoff HR by 3B Austin Riley (2 for 4, R, RBI). RF Mike Yastrzemski (2 for 2, R, 3 RBIs) added a 2-run shot and 1B Matt Olson (1 for 4, RBI) capped the scoring with an 2 RBI single. Meanwhile, DH Dominic Smith only went 4 for 4 with 2 runs to raise his team-leading batting average to .363.

RP Didier Fuentes (2-0) picked up the win, working 3 innings of no-hit ball with 1 walk and 3 K's, while RP's Dylan Lee (eighth inning) and Raisel Iglesias (ninth) shut the door with back-to-back perfect innings. It was the Braves' third win in a row as they improved to 7-3 in their last 10 and 19-6 in their last 25.

Cubs SP Colin Rea (4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 K) suffered the loss, falling to 4-2, as the Cubs dropped a third in a row following a 10-game win streak (April 28-May 8).

Cubs at Braves projected starters

LHP Shota Imanaga vs. RHP JR Ritchie

Imanaga (4-2, 2.28 ERA) makes his ninth start of 2026. He features an impressive 0.93 WHIP with 2.5 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 rates in 47 1/3 innings.

• Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 10 K in 8-3 home victory vs. Cincinnati Reds Thursday
• 2026 road splits: 1-1, 3.31 ERA (16 1/3 IP, 6 ER), 1.04 WHIP, 12 H, 5 BB, 21 K (11.6 K/9) in 3 starts
• Career vs. Braves: 1-1, 3.18 ERA (17 IP, 6 ER), 1.24 WHIP, 17 H, 4 BB, 14 K (7.4 K/9) in 3 starts, going 1-1 with a 4:50 ERA (12 IP, 6 ER) in 2 starts last season

Ritchie (1-0, 3.63 ERA) will make the fourth start of his career. The 22-year-old rookie from Seattle has a 1.50 WHIP, 6.2 BB/9 and 6.8 BB/9 in 17 1/3 innings.

• Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 6 BB, 2 K in 5-4 loss at Seattle Mariners May 4
• 2026 home splits: 1 start, no-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 2 ER (3 R), 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K in 4-3 win vs. Detroit Tigers in second career MLB appearance April 29
• Never faced Cubs
• 2026 with Triple-A Gwinnett: 3-1, 0.99 ERA (27 1/3 IP, 3 ER), 1.02 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9, 9.2 K/9 in 5 starts

Cubs at Braves odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:54 p.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Cubs -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Braves +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+118) | Braves +1.5 (-140)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -118 | U: -102)

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Cubs at Braves picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 6, Braves 2

Moneyline

BET CUBS (-135).

Both clubs have been playing fantastic baseball. They own the top 2 records in the NL and 2 of the top 3 in the majors -- the Tampa Bay Rays are 28-13, second overall, entering play Wednesday.

It's the pitching matchup that tilts the advantage to Chicago.

The Cubs send their ace to the mound in Imanaga, while the Braves counter with an up-and-coming rookie in Ritchie, who has struggled with walks in his last 2 outings -- 10 in 10 1/3 innings.

Experience wins here. BACK CHICAGO (-135) to even the series.

Run line/Against the spread

Chicago -1.5 (+118) is a decent play, but laying 1½ runs on the road against a club with the best record in the majors should require more juice on the plus-money side -- +130 or better. FanDuel Sportsbook offers just a tad bit better value of Cubs -1.5 (+120).

PASS and focus on the Cubs ML and the overall total.

If you want to put a little $$ on the Cubs RL, just don't wager more than 1½ UNITS between the RL and ML bets.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 8.5 (-102) to win a HALF UNIT.

The Cubs should bounce back after being 1-hit Tuesday, but it's only a HALF-UNIT PLAY because it's common for a team to struggle after a rough outing at the plate.

If Chicago's batters are patient, they should be able to work some walks against the rookie right-hander, along with forcing his pitch count to rise early.

The Braves' 12-5-2 Under record at home ranks second in MLB, per Teamrankings.com -- the Texas Rangers are first at 16-3-1.

At 24-17-1, the Cubs are an Over team, but the Under is 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Plus, the Under is 2-1 in Imanaga's last 3 starts, while it's 1-1-1 in Ritchie's 3 outings.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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