Neither the Chicago Cubs nor Atlanta Braves have gotten out to the starts their dedicated fan bases would’ve liked three weeks into the MLB betting season. Each currently rates out as the fourth place team in their respective divisions with the Cubs sitting a single game under .500 at 10-11 and the Braves playing to a 9-12 record after getting swept in Sunday’s doubleheader by the Arizona Diamondbacks. These teams just opposed one another at Wrigley Field from April 16-18 in a series that saw the Braves take two of three. Both teams scored 13-4 wins, and both games saw each of tonight’s pitchers on the wrong side of the offensive eruptions. That means both Kyle Hendricks and Huascar Ynoa will get a chance at redemption in the third of this extended four game series. Atlanta has held the upper hand in the recent rivalry at online sportsbooks taking seven of the last 10 overall meetings with the over cashing in at a 5-4-1 clip.
First pitch for the game between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 7:20 p.m. ET from Truist Park. The matchup will air live on FS1. Bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
MLB Odds at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
The Braves entered the regular season as the linemaker’s choice to win the NL East and be a major player in the race towards hoisting this year’s Commissioner’s Trophy. And now, it’s the Mets -112 who are the odds on favorite to win the division with the Braves +190 right in back of them followed by the Phillies +500, Nationals +1300 and Marlins +5000. They also sit firmly in back of the Dodgers +160 to win the NL Pennant, with the Mets +450 and Padres +500 sitting ahead of them in the pecking order. As for the Cubs, they’re nothing but an afterthought in the NL Central with the Brewers +150, Cardinals +200 and Reds +325 all possessing shorter odds than their +600 return to win the NL Central. In terms of winning the NL or World Series, Chicago has been relegated to nothing less than a dart throw with it offering up attractive +4000 and +5000 returns respectively. That pains me being a diehard fan of the Cubbie Blue!
Probable Pitchers
Kyle Hendricks: The Cubs’ staff ace has been a tough nut to crack through his first five starts. After getting ripped by the Braves for 7 hits (4 HR) and 7 ER while walking three and only logging a pair of strikeouts, the righty was back to being his dominant self last time out against the Brew Crew. He would hold Milwaukee to just 6 hits (2 HR) and a pair of ER while registering 6 K and 1 BB through six innings. After the offense mustered a total of 12 runs in his first four starts, Anthony Rizzo and company would erupt for 15 runs to earn him his second quality start and first win of 2021. This will be the righty’s second road start after bowing out early in Milwaukee due to an illness back on April 13. He’s 1-2 with a 4.55 ERA and .508 BAA through six career starts against the Braves and he’ll be making his first career start at Truist Park.
Huscar Ynoa: With injuries to Max Fried and Mike Soroka preventing each from making impacts atop the Braves starting rotation, the emergence of Ynoa couldn’t have come at a better time. Through four starts, the right-hander has allowed only 15 hits and 9 ER through his 22 total innings of work. It’s amounted to a 3.68 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and impressive .188 BAA. This however will be a redemption spot after Chicago peppered him for 3 HR and 6 ER in a crazy game that saw the Cubs finally bust out of their offensive doldrums. In his other three starts, he held the Nats, Marlins and D’backs to a grand total of 7 hits and 3 ER through 17 total innings. If he can avoid the long ball in this rematch with Wilson Contreras and company, the youngster could be in line for his first quality start of the season. Should that come to pass, he’ll also likely be in line to surpass his total strikeouts player prop.
Cubs vs. Braves Prediction
After scoring a grand total of zero runs and allowing Madison Bumgarner to throw a “no-hitter” against them in the second game, I can’t help but think Atlanta enters Monday’s series opener stark raving mad. Atlanta is a solid team that just hasn’t been able to get into much of any rhythm this season due to Mother Nature and the injury bug decimating the roster. While Chicago has shown glimpses of being better than expected, the team just isn’t very consistent. Chicago is yet to win a series on the road to date, and I have no inclination whatsoever in backing noodle-armed Hendricks against an offense that already tossed his salad once this season. I’m all in on Ynoa from player prop and fantasy perspectives for this tilt. With that, I fully expect Atlanta to come out the victor in the third game of this series.
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