Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/23/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Bally Sports South

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (-145) Chicago (+124)

Wrigley Field is the site where the Chicago Cubs (27-22) will compete against the Atlanta Braves (27-18) on Thursday. The line on this contest has the Braves at -145 and the Cubs are opening at +124. The over/under comes in at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Darius Vines and Ben Brown.

As a team, the Atlanta Braves are scoring 4.6 runs per game, which has them at 10th in baseball. They have earned a total of 203 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .324. The Braves have accrued 87 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 46 baseballs out of the park. They have 195 runs batted in as well as 382 base knocks on the campaign, and their team batting average is .254. Atlanta owns a slugging percentage of .411 and have struck out 387 times, while drawing a walk on 139 occasions.

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The Braves have a team earned run average of 3.44 on the campaign (9th in baseball), and they have rung up 373 batters. Braves pitchers have given up 43 long balls and 163 total runs (2nd in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 130 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 3.77 as a team on the year. Atlanta has allowed 353 base hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and 151 earned runs. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.87 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.23.

Braves bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on 34 times as well as having 47 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have a total of 24 holds on the season (19th in the league). The Braves relief pitchers have recorded a save percentage of 61.9% and has come into the game in 45 save situations. They have recorded 13 saves so far this year and have blown 8 of their 21 chances to save the game. The relief pitchers have inherited 40 runners for the season with 32.5% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. The Braves have sent 137 relief pitchers to the hill for the year.

The Atlanta Braves are sitting with 1,184 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 432 assists and 14 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .991 which is 1st in professional baseball, and have 39 double plays. The Braves have turned 70.4% of balls in play into outs out of 3,552 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 11th in baseball.

Vines has taken the mound for 30 innings and has earned 20 K's in his career. Vines (1-1 career mark) has earned a FIP of 5.15 and he has faced 125 hitters in the majors. His ERA is 4.20 (14 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.200. He has allowed 26 hits (7.8 hits per nine innings) and has 10 walks.

The Chicago Cubs have compiled an on-base percentage of .314 and a team batting average of .230 this year. They have been rung up on 419 occasions (10th in baseball) and have accounted for 364 hits. Chicago has tallied 48 home runs this season and 198 RBIs. The Cubs have a SLG% of .379 and they have an average of 4.42 runs per game (14th in baseball). They have recorded 69 two-baggers, while walking 176 times and putting up 212 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have conceded 204 runs over the course of the season and come in with a team ERA of 3.70 (175 earned runs conceded). They have relinquished 46 homers and they concede 4.31 runs per 9 innings (11th in MLB). The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.290 with a FIP of 3.81 as a staff over the course of the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.80 (418 strikeouts against 156 bases on balls). They have a ranking of 19th in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 394.

Chicago relievers have an inherited score percentage of 35.2% out of their 71 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 60 times in high leverage situations and on 50 occasions with base runners. With 45 save situations, the Cubs have compiled 23 holds and 9 blown saves. They sit at 22nd in the league with a save rate of 57.1%, and they have dispatched 151 bullpen pitchers to the hill for the year. Chicago has had relief pitchers enter the contest in 21 save opportunities and they have earned 12 saves.

The Chicago Cubs have gotten 27 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .982 (25th in the majors). The Cubs have accrued 395 assists, 30 errors and are sitting with 1,280 putouts on the campaign. In their 3,840 innings played, the Cubs hold a defensive efficiency of 69.1% (20th in the majors).

During his pro baseball career, Brown has conceded 31 hits while he has tallied 39 punch outs in 35 innings pitched. He has conceded a total of 14 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.245 and a FIP of 2.8. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.00 and he has faced 146 batters so far in his career. Brown (1-1 career record) has earned a 3.57 ERA while surrendering 7.9 hits per nine innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Atlanta (-145)

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