Baseball Betting: Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs Updated Odds and Picks (April 18, 2021)

Atlanta Braves fans have come a long way from one year ago. To illuminate, the Braves 2020 MLB betting odds success in the playoffs healed many wounds.  Atlanta’s postseason futility has been the butt of many jokes.  Last year, they turned that around, falling one game short of the World Series.  Atlanta is off to a sluggish start for 2021.  Yet there is no doubt they are the team to beat in the National League East.  Contrarily the Cubs blew up their roster to shed payroll for this season.  Chicago is a hard sell for gamblers.

Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs CashBet Wagering Analysis

Commencing with this season, the Cubs lost considerable online sportsbook appeal.  Chicago surrendered the 2021 campaign before it began.  Gamblers know going in that the Cubs are not serious about competing in this campaign.  Atlanta’s slow start is viewed as a temporary issue.  Only the Dodgers have more cache in the National League than the Braves.  Casual fans bet the Braves for their name-brand status and star-studded lineup.  These same bettors are eager to oppose the Cubs.  Sharps aren’t crazy about the high Atlanta prices.  Especially during a lackluster start to 2021.

Braves Up and Down Early On

Max Fried is the probable starter for the Braves Sunday Night.  To summarize, Fried has been shelled in the early going.  He brings a 9.00 earned run average and 2.43 WHIP.

Atlanta has a betting on baseball record of 4-7 straight up, 4-7 vs. the run line, and 6-4-1 over the total.  Overall, the Braves rank 15^th for run production and 17^th for staff earned run average.

First in production in Atlanta’s lineup is Ronald Acuna.  Thus far, Acuna has ten runs, five doubles, four home runs, eight runs batted in, and a 1.447 OPS.

Torn Down Cubs Can’t Gain Footing

 At the beginning, the Cubs are 5-6 straight up, 4-7 vs. the run line, and 3-7-1 under the total.  Run production is a major problem for Chicago with the MLB betting lines.  To illustrate, the Cubs rank 30^th for runs scored and 14^th for staff earned run average.

Namely, Adbert Alzolay is the probable starter for the Cubs.  Alzolay brings a 6.10 earned run average and 0.97 WHIP.

So far, Kris Bryant leads Chicago with four doubles, three home runs, and a 1.022 OPS.  Javier Baez adds three home runs, eight runs batted in, and a .796 OPS.

Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs Against the Spread

Overall, the Braves are 16-13 in games outside their division.  Atlanta is 18-18 in baseball betting away matchups.  Further, the Braves are 39-19 as favorites.  Atlanta is 17-19 vs. the run line in road matchups.  In non-division games, the Braves are 12-17 on the board with the run line.  And as run line chalk, Atlanta is 26-32.  Atlanta is 17-16-3 over the total in away games.  While the Braves are 14-13-2 to the over in non-division games.  When favored, Atlanta is 30-23-5 over the number.

Chicago is 20-18 at Wrigley Field. Specifically, as a dog, the Cubs are 9-11.  Outside their division, Chicago is 12-01.  Accordingly, the Cubs are 15-23 at home vs. the run line.  Chicago is 8-14 on the run line outside their division. While the Cubs are 13-7 as run line dogs.  Chicago is 12-10 over the total outside their division.  And then at home, the Cubs are 13-24-1 to the under.  Chicago is 14-6 over the number as a dog.

Overall, the Braves have won five of their last seven against the Cubs.  Only three of the previous eight games between Atlanta and Chicago went under the total.  Specifically, at Wrigley Field, the Braves are 5-3.  Five of the last eight games between these teams at Chicago stayed under the total.

Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs CashBet Free Pick  

In this situation, the Braves are not up to par.  Atlanta is overpriced for this MLB gambling matchup, related to their current performance.  And the Cubs haven’t been as bad as advertised.  At least not yet!

Braves at Cubs CashBet Best Bet: 

Chicago Cubs