The Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves conclude their three-game series on Thursday night after splitting the first two games of the series. At home, the Braves are favored with a hefty -185 moneyline compared to Chicago’s +155 moneyline. There is also an over/under of 8.5 runs.
For the second straight year, the Braves have gotten off to a sluggish start. With Wednesday’s 6-3 loss to the Cubs, Atlanta has dropped three games under .500, putting them 5.5 games off the pace in the NL East. The Braves have yet to win a series this year, which is something they will be hoping to change on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Cubs haven’t won a series since the first series of the season. Wednesday’s win was just Chicago’s second victory in the team’s last eight games. Following that win over the Braves, the Cubs are still two games under .500 and 3.5 games back in the NL Central.
Smile, Everyone
Drew Smyly will try to be the one to deliver a series victory for the Cubs, as he’s been one of the lone bright spots in the Chicago rotation thus far. Over his first three starts, the lefty is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. However, he’s coming off his first subpar outing of the season, giving up four runs in five innings, including a pair of home runs, in a loss to the Pirates last week.
Of course, the Atlanta lineup has been a little sluggish lately, scoring three runs or less in five of the team’s last seven games. Keep in mind that the Braves are adjusting to life without Freddie Freeman and are still without Ronald Acuna Jr., who remains on the IL. Matt Olson and Austin Riley have carried the lineup while Ozzie Albies has chipped in six home runs, although the depth in Atlanta’s lineup has been lacking in April.
The Wright Stuff
Kyle Wright will make his fourth start of the season on Thursday after pitching like Atlanta’s ace through his first three starts. The 26-year-old owns a career ERA of 5.48 but is 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA through his first three starts. Wright has struck out 26 over his first 17 innings of 2022 and fired six scoreless innings against the Marlins in his last start.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have a little bit of momentum and confidence after scoring three runs in the 10th inning of Wednesday’s win. The Cubs also scored 21 runs in a game last weekend, although they’ve also scored three runs or less in five of their last seven games. Seiya Suzuki has made a great first impression in the big leagues, while Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner have also been red hot lately.
Be Brave
Outside of the 10th inning of Wednesday’s game, the Braves have been the better team over the first two games of the series. Atlanta has shown some signs of snapping out of its early-season funk, and that should be the case with Wright on the mound. Even if they don’t provide a ton of value as the favorite, bet on the Braves to beat the Cubs in Thursday’s rubber match.
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