Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 9-26-23 MLB Picks

The Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves meet in game one of their three-game series in MLB action from Truist Park on Tuesday night.

Cubs Still Chasing Wild Card Spot

The Chicago Cubs are in the midst of the chase for one of the Wild Card spots in the National League, sitting with a record of 82-74 on the year, 1 game ahead of the Marlins for the final Wild Card spot in the NL after a sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 4-3 win in Sunday’s series finale. Nico Hoerner leads the Cubbies with 172 hits along with 68 RBIs and a .285 batting average this season while Cody Bellinger has a team-high 26 home runs and 95 RBIs along with a .305 batting average this season. Ian Happ has a team-high 34 doubles as well for the Cubbies this season. Justin Steele will start for the Cubs here and is 16-5 with a 3.00 ERA and 170 strikeouts this season.

Chicago Cubs Team Facts

The Cubs have lost each of their last five road games.
The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in 12 of their last 13 night games following a win.
The Cubs have led after 7 innings in eight of their last 12 games as underdogs against National League opponents.
The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Cubs' last seven night games against NL East opponents.
The Cubs have led after 5 innings in three of their last four games as road underdogs.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

Cody Bellinger has hit a home run in each of the Cubs' last two road games against NL East opponents that held a winning record.
Seiya Suzuki has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last eight appearances after not playing the previous day.
Justin Steele has recorded six or more strikeouts in nine of his last 10 appearances.
Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one RBI in five of his six previous appearances with his team as an underdog against the Braves.
Ian Happ has scored a run in eight of his last nine appearances with the Cubs as road underdogs.
Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs' last nine games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
Justin Steele ranks 3rd in the league for Wins (16) this season.

Braves Hit 100 Wins

The Atlanta Braves hit the 100-win mark in the pursuit of the top record in baseball, sitting at 100-56 after their 8-5 win in Sunday’s doubleheader finale against the Nationals. Ronald Acuna Jr. leads the Braves with 210 hits and a .336 batting average along with 68 stolen bases to lead MLB in that category. Acuna Jr. also has 40 homers and 101 RBIs while Matt Olson leads the Braves with 53 home runs and 133 RBIs this season. Austin Riley’s chipped in 37 homers, while Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna make up the other pair of Braves bats with 30+ HR so far this season. Bryce Elder will start for the Braves here and is 12-4 with a 3.63 ERA and 126 strikeouts this season.

Atlanta Braves Team Facts

The Braves have lost four of their last five games as favorites against the Cubs following a road win.
The Braves have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games as favorites against NL Central opponents following a road win.
The Braves have trailed after 7 innings in eight of their last 12 games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Braves' last three games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
The Braves have led after 3 innings in each of their last six night games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.

Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts

Austin Riley has hit a home run in five of the Braves' last six night games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Ronald Acuna Jr. has recorded two or more hits in each of the Braves' last eight games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Matt Olson has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Braves' last six games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Ronald Acuna Jr. has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Braves' last eight games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Ozzie Albies has scored at least one run in each of his last 14 appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Matt Olson ranks 1st in the league in Home Runs (53) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

The Atlanta Braves rank 1st in the league for runs scored this season (909).
The Atlanta Braves rank 1st in the league for hits this season (1481).
The Chicago Cubs rank 5th in the league for on-base percentage this season (.331).
The Chicago Cubs rank T5th in the league for home runs allowed this season (171).

Chris’ Pick

I’m going to take a shot on the Cubs here. Atlanta has done it all to this point. NL East title, 100 wins, almost have the top record in baseball locked up with home field as well. The Cubs have a lot more at stake with nothing clinched as of late, they have their ace on the mound who needs another solid start to make a claim for the Cy Young, and Elder has been more than hittable in a lot of his recent starts. All in all, I think this is a spot where the plus money is worth some strong consideration. Give me Chicago here.