Chicago Cubs Vs. Atlanta Braves (4/27/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

The Chicago Cubs were 71-91 in 2021, fourth in the National League Central.  David Ross in his third season as Chicago’s skipper; won two World Series titles as a player (2013 – Boston Red Sox and 2016 – Chicago Cubs).  Between 2015 and 2020, the Cubs made the playoffs in five out of six seasons.  To begin the new year, Chicago is 7-9.  They’re a long shot to win the 2022 World Series at +14000.  The Atlanta Braves are the defending World Series champions as we head into the 2022 season.  In 2021, the Braves were 88-73 winning the National League East.  In the playoffs they beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division series (3-1), the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship series (4-2) then the Houston Astros, 4-2 in the World Series.  In six seasons as the Braves manager, Brian Snitker has won over 450 games: winning the National League East the last four seasons.  Through the first 17 games of the 2022 season, Atlanta is 7-10.  The Braves are +1200 to repeat as World Series champions. 

Chicago Cubs Vs. Atlanta Braves Betting Odds

The Cubs are 0-4 in their last four during game two of a series.  Chicago is 1-4 in their last five Wednesday games.  Over is 9-3 in the Cubs last 12 during game two of a series.  Over is 3-0-1 in the Braves last four Wednesday games.  Atlanta is 9-2 in their last 11 during game two of a series.  Over is 3-1-1 in the Braves last five during game two of a series.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup

DH Rafael Ortega L
2B Nick Madrigal R
C Willson Contreras R
LF Ian Happ S
1B Frank Schwindel R
RF Seiya Suzuki R
CF Jason Heyward L
3B Pat Wisdom R
SS Nico Hoerner R

Chicago Cubs Vs. Charlie Morton (R)

Wilson Contreras is a solid catcher, who can handle the bat well. In 2021 he hit .237 with 21 home runs and 57 runs batted in while accumulating 181 total bases.  This season, he’s hitting .255 in 51 at-bats with two home runs, six runs batted in with 23 total bases.  Additionally, he has four doubles with a .451 slugging percentage with an OPS of .807.  2016 World Series champion, Jason Heyward is a solid veteran presence on the Cubs.  Playing in 104 games last season, Heyward hit .214 with eight home runs and 30 runs batted in.  He has 598 hits in 709 career games as a Chicago Cub.  This season he’s batting .267 with two runs batted in and having an OPS of .720. 

Nick Madrigal who came over from the White Sox last season, hit .305 with two home runs, 21 runs batted in, 85 total bases and a .349 on-base percentage.  In 2022, he’s scored five runs, driven in a run with an on-base percentage of .288.  Nico Hoerner is hitting .327 in 49 at-bats this season with two doubles, a triple, a home run and eight runs driven in.  He has an OPS of .809 with a .469 slugging percentage.  Patrick Wisdom was a revelation for Chicago last year mashing 28 homers, driving in 61 runs in 106 games.  This year he’s hitting .250 with two home runs, 11 runs batted in (second on the club), 23 total bases and an OPS of .806.

Seiya Suzuki in his first season in the big leagues is batting .354 (third in the National League) with a team leading four home runs, 13 runs batted in and 33 total bases.  He’s also slugging .688 with an OPS of 1.180.  Suzuki is the favorite to win National League Rookie of the Year at -130. 

Charlie Morton has started three games for Atlanta this year and is 1-2 with a 6.32 ERA.  The veteran righty has struck out 14 batters in 15 2/3 innings while allowing 11 earned runs with a 1.532 WHIP.  The 15-year veteran has a lifetime record of 108-97 with an ERA of 4.02 while striking out 1,506 hitters in 1,640 2/3 innings pitched.

Atlanta Braves Starting Lineup

2B Ozzie Albies S
1B Matt Olson L
DH Marcell Ozuna R
CF Adam Duvall R
C Travis d’Arnaud R
LF Travis Demeritte R
SS Dansby Swanson R
RF Guillermo Heredia R
3B Orlando Arcia R

Atlanta Braves Vs. Mark Leiter Jr. (R)

First baseman Matt Olson hit .271 while smashing 39 home runs and driving in 111 runs for the Oakland Athletics in 2021.  Against right-handed pitching in 2021, he hit .271 in 419 plate appearances with 17 long balls and 61 runs driven in.  This season he’s second in the National League with a .355 batting average.  He’s hit eight doubles, two home runs, driven in six runs, 36 total bases with a slugging percentage of .581 and an OPS of 1.041.  Olson is +2000 to win the National League MVP in 2022.

Ozzie Albies smacked 30 home runs with 106 runs batted in, slugging .488 with an OPS of .799 in 2021.  Albies hit 21 home runs off right-handed pitching last year while slugging .454.  He’s tied for first in the National League in home runs with six.  Albies has a team leading 11 runs driven in, 38 total bases with a .576 slugging percentage and an OPS of .900.  Atlanta’s second baseman is +3500 to win the National League MVP.  In 2021, Austin Riley hit .303 with 33 homers, 107 runs batted in while slugging .531.  Against right-handed pitching last season, the Braves third baseman hit .312 with 30 home runs and 89 runs batted in with an OPS of .941.  To start the 2022 campaign, Riley is hitting .295 with six doubles, four home runs, six runs driven in with a .985 OPS. 

Marcell Ozuna is hitting .273 (18-66) in 2022.  He’s tied for second on the team with four home runs and is second on the Braves in runs batted in with 10.  Ozuna has 36 total bases with a .530 slugging percentage and an OPS of .840.

Mark Leiter Jr. is 0-1 with an ERA of 11.05 in two starts this year.  He’s pitched 7 1/3 innings allowing nine earned runs, striking out seven hitters with a 1.909 WHIP.  In his third season in the majors, he’s 3-8 with an ERA of 5.86 in 121 1/3 innings.

Chicago Cubs Vs. Atlanta Braves Picks & Prediction

Offensively, the Cubs are averaging 5.48 runs per nine innings, first in the majors and they also lead all Major League Baseball in batting average (.273) and OPS (.774).  Chicago’s pitching staff is allowing 4.24 runs per nine innings, 19^th in Major League Baseball.  Atlanta is scoring 4.11 runs per game, 15^th in the majors.  The Braves are hitting .231 as a team with an OPS of .723.  Atlanta’s pitching staff is allowing 4.95 runs per nine innings, 26^th in the majors.  I’m going to take the road team Cubs in this matchup to beat the Braves to win this game by over 1.5 runs and the teams to combine for over nine runs.  I really like how the Chicago offense is hitting, led by rookie sensation Seiya Suzuki whose OPS of 1.180 (third in Major League Baseball) and Patrick Wisdom who has 30 home runs in 388 career at-bats as a Cub.