Sunday, May 1, 2016

Wrigley Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Matt Wisler vs. Jason Hammel

The Atlanta Braves visit Wrigley Field on Sunday to play the Chicago Cubs. The probable starters are Matt Wisler for the Braves and Jason Hammel for the Cubs. The Braves have a 13-7-3 over/under record and a 10-13-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 44% of the time. The Cubs are 16-6-0 against the run line and have a 12-8-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 73% of the time.

The Braves head into this matchup with a 5-18 record, including 4-6 on the road. Starting pitcher Matt Wisler has a 0-2 record with an earned run average of 4.26 and a WHIP of 1.07. He has 19 strikeouts over his 25.1 innings pitched and he has given up 20 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.1 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.7. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 5.10 and they have given up 84 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .258 against the bullpen while being struck out 86 times and walking 48 times this season. As a team, Atlanta has allowed 9.22 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.9 batters per nine. They are 26th in the league in team earned run average at 5.05. The Braves pitchers have collectively given up 210 base hits and 115 earned runs. They have allowed 25 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Atlanta as a pitching staff has walked 94 batters and struck out 180. They walk 4.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.9 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.48 and their FIP as a unit is 4.39.

As a team, Atlanta is batting .229, good for 27th in the league while putting together a .223 average away from home. The Braves hold a .289 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .301 which is good for 24th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 7.74 hits per game. Nick Markakis comes into this game hitting .302 and his on-base percentage is at .406. He has 26 hits this season along with 9 runs scored and 19 runs batted in. He's struck out 15 times and has walked 13 times. Adonis Garcia is hitting .282 and he has an on-base percentage of .351. He has totaled 24 hits so far while scoring 7 runs and he's driven in 6. He has walked 7 times and has struck out 18 times. The Braves have 178 hits, including 32 doubles and 5 home runs. They've stolen 9 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 7 times. Atlanta has walked 73 times this season and they've struck out 200 times as a unit. They've left 167 men on base and have a team OPS of .590. They score 3.26 runs per contest and have scored a total of 75 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 7-2 home record and a 17-5 overall mark. With an earned run average of 0.75, Jason Hammel has a 3-0 record and a 1.04 WHIP. He has 22 strikeouts over the 24 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 16 hits. He has allowed 6 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 2.49. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.06 and they have given up 34 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .178 against the Cubs bullpen while being struck out 66 times and walking 18 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.35 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.15 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 2.48. The Cubs pitchers as a team have surrendered 138 base knocks and 52 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 15 home runs this year and they give up 0.7 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 54 hitters and struck out 199. They give up a walk 2.5 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 0.98 while their FIP as a staff is 2.90.

As a team, they are batting .255, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .218 average at home. The Cubs hold a .432 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .364 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 12th in baseball with 8.55 hits per contest. Anthony Rizzo comes into this matchup batting .218 and he has an OBP of .384. He has 17 hits this year along with 16 runs scored and 24 RBI. He's struck out 14 times and has walked on 18 occasions. Dexter Fowler is hitting .347 and he has an OBP of .474. He has collected 26 hits so far while he's scored 19 runs and drove in 15. He has earned a walk 17 times and has punched out 19 times. The Cubs as a unit have 188 base hits, including 41 doubles and 28 homers. They have 12 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 5 times. Chicago as a team has walked 121 times this year and they have struck out 167 times. They've had 172 men left on base and have an OPS of .796. They score 6.18 runs per game and have totaled 136 runs so far this season.

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 13-7-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 10-13-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 12-8-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 16-6-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Atlanta Braves

04/18/16 3B Gordon Beckham Hamstring 15-day DL (4/17)
04/13/16 2B Hector Olivera Legal problems out indefinitely
04/12/16 P Daniel Winkler Elbow 15-day DL (4/11)
04/11/16 RF Ender Inciarte Hamstring 15-day DL (4/9)
04/04/16 P Andrew McKiraha Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Manuel Banuelos Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Paco Rodrigue Elbow out for season
04/04/16 P Shae Simmons Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)

Chicago Cubs

04/30/16 LF Kris Bryant Ankle is downgraded to not expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Atlanta Braves
04/28/16 C Miguel Montero Back 15-day DL (4/25)
04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee 60-day DL (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 60-day DL (2/25)

Josh's Pick: Take the Cubs

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