Cubs vs. Braves Thursday Prediction
The Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves have played back-to-back low-scoring games to start their series at SunTrust Park. After splitting the first two games of the series, which team will emerge on Thursday night?
Game Snapshot & Odds
957 Chicago Cubs (-113) at 958 Atlanta Braves (-105); 8.5 runs
Thursday, May 17, 2018
7:35 p.m. ET, SunTrust Park
TV: CHC (WGN); ATL (FSSO)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Cubs as a -113 favorite. As of this writing, 64% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Cubs to beat the Braves on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Cubs’ Lester defeats White Sox to earn third win
Jon Lester earned his third victory of the season on Saturday, limiting the White Sox to just one run on four hits over 5 2/3 innings. The veteran southpaw punched out five on the afternoon while issuing three free passes. The only blemish on his day came on an RBI ground out by Jose Abreu in the sixth. Now 3-1 on the season, Lester boasts a 2.66 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 36/20 K/BB ratio. He’ll do battle against the Braves in Atlanta his next time out on Thursday.
Braves’ Soroka can’t get through five innings vs. Marlins
Mike Soroka allowed five runs — but only one earned — over 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision Saturday against the Marlins. Soroka’s downfall was the fifth inning, in which he got two quick outs before loading the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. He then induced a soft chopper to the left side that third baseman Jose Bautista booted, allowing a run to score.
To compound the issue, Derek Dietrich followed with a bases-clearing double that ended Soroka’s night early. The bottom line is, despite the crooked numbers, Soroka actually deserved better than what he got on this night. He’ll carry a 3.68 ERA and 15/4 K/BB ratio into a rematch with these same Marlins next weekend in Atlanta.
MLB Betting Trends
Chicago
The Cubs are 5-0 in Lester’s last five starts versus the Braves and are 6-1 in their last seven road games versus Atlanta. They’re also 17-7 in their last 24 games versus the Braves overall.
Atlanta
The under is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these two teams in Atlanta.
Prediction:
The Cubs are 9-2 in Lester’s last 11 starts versus the National League East, are 4-0 in his last four outings coming off four days of rest and are 41-20 in his last 61 starts. On the other side, the Braves are just 1-4 in their last five home games, are winless in their last six home games versus a team with a losing road record and are 1-4 in their last five home contests versus a team with a winning record.
The Pick: Chicago Cubs -113