Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves odds, picks and predictions

The Chicago Cubs (27-16) and Atlanta Braves (30-13) tangle Thursday in the finale of a 3-game series. First pitch at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, 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 2-0

Chicago was shut out in back-to-back games heading into this series, and they have scored only 3 runs in the first 2 games. The Cubs lost 5-2 Tuesday and 4-1 Wednesday and are looking Thursday to salvage 1 game in this series and snap a season-long 4-game losing streak. SP Shota Imanaga (4-3) was the hard-luck loser Wednesday (7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). 

Atlanta has won 4 in a row and have MLB's best record. At home this season, the Braves are 14-6 with a plus-32 run differential. RF Mike Yastrzemski drove in the tiebreaking run Wednesday with a pinch-hit double in the eighth inning, and LF Mauricio Dubón finished off Chicago with a 2-run HR of RP Phil Matan.  

Cubs at Braves projected starters

RHP Ben Brown vs. LHP Chris Sale

Brown (1-1, 1.82 ERA) is making his second start and 14th appearance. He owns a 0.91 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 in 29 2/3 innings.

• Last start: No-decision, 4 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 7-1 win at Texas Rangers Friday
• Career vs. Braves (regular season): 0-1, 3.24 ERA (8 1/3 IP, 3 ER), 6 H, 4 BB, 14 K in 4 appearances (1 start)
• Has allowed just 2 ER in his last 21 IP

Sale (6-2, 2.20 ERA) is making his ninth start. He has a 0.88 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 10.3 K/9 in 49 IP.

• Last start: Loss, 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K in 3-1 loss at LA Dodgers Friday
• Career vs. Cubs (regular season): 3-2, 1.59 ERA (34 IP, 6 ER), 25 H, 7 BB, 50 K in 7 appearances (5 starts)
• Has logged a 1.36 ERA over his last 33 IP

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 9:07 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Cubs +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Braves -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-160) | Braves -1.5 (+135)
• Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -118 | U: -102)

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Cubs at Braves picks and predictions

Prediction

Braves 5, Cubs 3

Moneyline

No interest; PASS.

Run line/Against the spread

The last 6 series meetings have made for a 4-2 Atlanta edge, and all 4 of those Braves' wins have been by 3 runs or more. The Cubs are just 9-11 away from Wrigley Field, while Atlanta has gone a robust 14-6 at home.

Brown is making his second appearance as a starter after logging his first 12 games this season out of the Chicago bullpen. In that last start Friday at Texas, the 26-year-old right-hander went 4 innings while throwing 47 pitches. Look for the Cubs bullpen to be heavily involved in this one. That bullpen has been prone to some loud contact in posting a 4.70 ERA since May 6.

From an OPS-allowed standpoint, May has been the best month interval over Sale's career (.546 OPS allowed). And the veteran southpaw has gotten a combined 35 swings and misses over his last 2 starts. A top-shelf Cubs offense has been quieted over recent days, and their numbers against lefties (.788 OPS) figure as being a bit bloated due to a .320 BABIP. Sale has allowed just 2 runs in 24 home innings.

The Cubs have been outscored 18-3 in losing their last 4. The Braves have played in just 6 1-run games.

BACK THE BRAVES -1.5 (+135).

Over/Under

The pitching particulars in this matchup -- both starters and both bullpens -- have some generous batting-average-on-balls-in-play figures tamping down ERAs. And tamping them down to a lower-than-should-be degree.In overall batting OPS, the Braves and Cubs rank first and fourth, respectively. This series has produced 2 Unders this week and 7 straight overall, but the OVER 7.5 (-118) is a worthy contrarian lean for Thursday.

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