Cubs vs. Braves Betting Odds, Prediction, Preview: Take the Total in Tuesday NL Clash (April 27)
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images. Pictured: Freddie Freeman.
- The Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs will meet for Game 2 of their series tonight.
- The Braves have struggled to get their offense going in recent days, but all of the problems went away yesterday as the over cashed.
- Mike Ianniello thinks that will happen once again and explains why below.
Cubs vs. Braves Odds
| Cubs Odds | +145 |
| Braves Odds | -180 |
| Over/Under | 8.5 |
| Time | 7:20 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
If you like watching batters hit home runs and pitchers throw strikeouts, last night was the perfect game for you. In Game 1 of a four-game series between the Cubs and Braves, these two teams combined for 17 strikeouts and four home runs.
I’m not sure if a “Home Run Cycle” is a thing, but if it is, we saw one on Monday night. Dansby Swanson hit a solo shot, Willson Contreras had a two-run homer, Freddie Freeman hit a three-run blast and Kris Bryant clobbered a grand slam.
After mustering just one hit in their two games on Sunday, Dansby Swanson walked around the field and locker room burning sage to rid the Braves of the bad vibes. Well, whatever was in that sage worked because Atlanta racked up 10 hits and took the first game of the series, 8-7.
If the @Braves lineup breaks out tonight, you now know to thank @LieutenantDans7 😅 pic.twitter.com/mOSEQflFA9
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) April 26, 2021
Chicago Cubs
Trevor Williams (RHP) will get the ball for the second game of the series for his fifth start of the season and his second against Atlanta. Williams is 2-1 this year with a 4.66 ERA and has been good, not great.
He had one bad start against the Pirates but has allowed two runs or fewer in his other three starts. Against the Braves, he allowed one run and four hits over four innings.
The concern with Williams is his walk rate is up this year, and he has lasted six innings just once this year. Williams ranks in the bottom 25% of the league in xBA and Average Exit Velocity.
The Cubs bats have been red-hot ever since the last series against the Braves. They lead MLB in runs over the last seven days. Bryant is batting .333 over that stretch, and again, crushed a grand slam last night.
Javier Baez is questionable with hamstring tightness, but 2018 first-round pick Nico Hoerner has filled in with a .429 batting average and 1.270 OPS in past five games.
Contreras hit his seventh home run last night, good for second in the league.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves will counter with Ian Anderson (RHP) who is coming off his best start of the season. Anderson went 6 2/3 against the Yankees in his last outing and allowed no runs and just four hits.
In just his second big league season, Anderson has a total of 10 starts under his belt but a solid 2.48 career ERA. Anderson was especially brilliant in last year’s playoffs, allowing just two runs in four starts.
The former third overall pick throws a 95 mile per hour fastball and has a terrific changeup. Anderson has given up more contact than he would like this year, allowing a 43.3 hard hit percentage. His strikeout percentage is 24.5%, down from his 29.7% last year.
The Braves offense had a much-needed breakout game after being (kind of) no-hit on Sunday. Atlanta jumped out to a quick start, batting through the lineup in the first inning and posting a four-spot in the first frame. The Braves tallied 10 hits and saw hits from seven of their eight position players.
While I don’t think anybody should worry about Ronald Acuña Jr., it is important to note that he is now hitless in five straight games since returning from an abdominal injury.
Cubs-Braves Pick
I’m not superstitious, but I’m a little stitious. So, despite the Braves' struggles over the last week — batting .167 in the last seven games, last in the MLB — I don’t want to bet against them.
After Swanson walked around burning sage to get rid of the bad juju in the locker room, the Braves bats came to life and put up eight runs on the Cubs.
Chicago’s offense has been terrific recently, ranking in the top 10 in batting average, wOBA and wRC+ over the last seven days and leading the league in runs during that stretch.
Both of these pitchers have been good but not great this year and allow a lot of hard contact. The first four games between these two teams this year have averaged 14 runs per game.
I have no idea how long the effects of sage last, but I’m willing to trust it’s at least two games and we see some more fireworks in tonight’s contest.
Pick: Over 8.5 (-105) (Play to -120)
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