Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, 9/28/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves

Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, GA

TV: Bally Sports South

The Chicago Cubs (82-75) are on their way to Truist Park on Thursday where they will take on the Atlanta Braves (101-56). The starting pitchers will be Marcus Stroman and Dylan Dodd.

As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are putting up 5.1 runs per game, which has them sitting at 6th in the league. They have earned a total of 798 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .331. The Cubs have tallied 262 two-baggers as a team and have hit 189 balls out of the stadium. They have earned 766 runs batted in and 1,362 base knocks for the season, while their batting average sits at .256. Chicago owns a slugging percentage of .422 and have struck out 1,340 times, while drawing a walk on 554 occasions.

Get all of our Free MLB Picks

Their K/BB ratio is 2.70 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.28. Cubs pitchers have allowed 173 home runs and 698 runs (14th in the league). Chicago has given up 1,287 base knocks (8.3 per 9 innings) in addition to 630 earned runs. The Cubs have a team earned run average of 4.07 so far this year (14th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 1,332 hitters. They have walked 493 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.16 as a team so far this season.

Cubs pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on 128 times and also have had 142 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have a total of 81 holds this year (15th in baseball). The Cubs relief pitchers have accumulated a save percentage of 64.2% and has come into the game in 135 save situations. They have tallied 34 saves for the season and have blown 19 of their 53 save opportunities. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 212 base runners on the campaign with 28.8% of those players crossed home plate. The Cubs have dispatched 490 relievers to the mound for the season.

The Cubs have converted 69.4% of baseballs in play into outs in their 12,528 innings on the field, which has them sitting 15th in the majors. The Chicago Cubs have accounted for 4,176 putouts over the course of the season, in addition to 1,442 assists and 87 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .985 which puts them in 19th in the majors, and they have turned 132 double plays.

Stroman has thrown 1,301 innings and has accounted for 1,089 K's thus far in his career. Stroman (77-75 record in his career) has a FIP of 3.62 and he has faced 5,412 batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.64 (527 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.251. He has conceded 1,253 hits (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 376 walks.

The Atlanta Braves have tallied a team on-base percentage of .343 as well as a team batting average of .275 this season. They have been rung up on 1,246 occasions (25th in the league) and have notched a total of 1,489 base knocks. Atlanta has 301 home runs on the season as well as 886 RBIs. The Braves hold a team slugging % of .501 and they have an average of 5.83 runs per game (1st in the league). They have hit 283 doubles, while taking a walk 522 times as well as scoring 916 runs.

The Braves have a team WHIP of 1.298 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.08 as a team on the season. They rank 15th in baseball as a staff in total hits given up with 1,292. The Atlanta pitching staff have yielded 685 runs this season while having a team ERA of 4.09 (634 earned runs allowed). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 9.50 (1,475 strikeouts vs 518 walks). They have allowed 180 homers and they concede 4.42 runs per 9 innings (11th in the league).

With 170 save situations, the Braves have earned 96 holds and 23 blown saves. Atlanta has had relief pitchers step onto the hill in 73 save opportunities and they have recorded 50 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have taken the field 161 times in high leverage situations in addition to 126 occasions with base runners. Atlanta relievers hold an inherited score rate of 30.3% of 185 inherited runners. They are currently ranked 6th in the league holding a save percentage of 68.5%, and they have dispatched 514 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond so far this year.

In 12,546 innings on the field, the Braves have earned a defensive efficiency of 68.4% (23rd in pro baseball). The Atlanta Braves have turned 133 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .986 (16th in MLB). The Braves have racked up 1,290 assists, 80 errors and have earned a total of 4,182 putouts for the season.

Thus far in his career, Dodd has given up 44 base knocks while totaling 14 punch outs in 28 innings. Dodd (2-2 career mark) is the owner of a 7.62 earned run average while allowing 14.0 hits per 9 innings. He has given up a total of 24 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.941 and being the owner of a FIP of 7.7. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.27 and he has faced 136 opposing batters so far in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Chicago

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here