Braves vs. Cubs Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 6/18/2022

The Atlanta Braves (37-28) and Chicago Cubs (24-40) meet Saturday at Wrigley Field, starting at 2:20 PM ET. The Braves are -167 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Cubs are favored against the spread of runs with odds. Kyle Wright will get the ball for Atlanta while Chicago counter with Justin Steele.

Braves vs. Cubs Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Braves vs. Cubs

Our computer pick: Chicago Cubs (+145)

Braves vs. Cubs Game Info

• Atlanta Braves probable starting pitcher: Kyle Wright
• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Justin Steele
• Game Day: Saturday, June 18, 2022
• Game Time: 2:20 PM ET
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Stadium: Wrigley Field

Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Pitching Matchup

Braves Starter Kyle Wright

• Wright makes the start for the Braves, his 13th of the season. He is 7-3 with a 2.57 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings pitched.
• His most recent appearance was on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when the right-hander went 6 2/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs while giving up five hits.
• In 12 games this season, the 26-year-old has amassed a 2.57 ERA and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .195 to opposing batters.
• Wright is looking to continue a fourth-game quality start streak in this game.
• Wright is aiming for his seventh straight outing lasting five or more innings. He averages 6.0 frames per appearance on the hill.
• The opposing Cubs offense has the 15th-ranked slugging percentage (.391) and is 17th in MLB play with 64 home runs. It has a collective .241 batting average, and is 12th in MLB with 520 total hits and 20th in MLB play scoring 269 runs.
• In seven innings over one appearance against the Cubs this season, Wright has a 1.29 ERA and a 1 WHIP while his opponents are batting .143.
• Among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season, the 26-year-old’s 2.57 ERA ranks 14th, 1.032 WHIP ranks 20th, and 9.8 K/9 ranks 11th.

Cubs Starter Justin Steele

• The Cubs’ Steele (1-5) will make his 13th start of the season.
• The left-hander’s last appearance was on Tuesday, when he threw 7 2/3 innings against the San Diego Padres, giving up one earned run while allowing six hits.
• The 26-year-old has an ERA of 4.33 and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .252 in 12 games this season.
• If he completes six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed, he’ll earn his third quality start in a row.
• Steele has pitched five or more innings in three straight games and will look to extend that streak.
• The Braves have scored 308 runs this season, which ranks seventh in MLB. They have 540 hits, ninth in baseball, with 97 home runs (second in the league).

Braves Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Braves have won 29 out of the 46 games, or 63%, in which they’ve been favored.
• Atlanta has a record of 17-6 in games where sportsbooks favor them by at least -167 on the moneyline.
• The bookmakers’ moneyline implies a 62.5% chance of a victory for the Braves.
• Games involving Atlanta have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 34 of 64 chances this season.
• The Braves have an ATS record of 33-31-0 in 64 games with a spread this season.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• The Cubs have been chosen as underdogs in 45 games this year and have walked away with the win 17 times (37.8%) in those games.
• This season, Chicago has come away with a win four times in 14 chances when named as an underdog of at least +145 or worse on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Cubs have a 40.8% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
• Chicago and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 32 of their 64 opportunities.
• The Cubs have posted a record of 32-32-0 against the spread this season.

Braves Leaders & Batting Stats

• Austin Riley is the Braves best power hitter, hitting 18 round-trippers this season in addition to accumulating 39 RBI, both team highs.
• Among all batters in MLB, Riley’s home run total ranks him second, and his RBI tally ranks him 22nd.
• Dansby Swanson’s .286 batting average leads his team.
• Swanson is 48th in homers and 27th in RBI among all MLB hitters this season.
• Matt Olson is batting .246 with 24 doubles, eight home runs and 39 walks.
• Marcell Ozuna is hitting .230 with nine doubles, 12 home runs and 17 walks.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Willson Contreras has swatted a team- leading 12 long balls.
• Contreras is 25th in home runs and 104th in RBI among all hitters in the big leagues.
• Contreras takes a hitting streak of five games into this matchup. During his last five outings he is hitting .350 with two doubles, two home runs and three RBI.
• Ian Happ’s .280 batting average is a team-high mark.
• Happ ranks 80th among all hitters in MLB in homers, and 61st in RBI.
• Frank Schwindel has a team-best 33 runs batted in.
• Patrick Wisdom paces the Cubs with 12 long balls.

Betting Tips for Braves vs. Cubs

After digging through all of the key trends and stats for this matchup, our best bet is the Cubs on the moneyline at +145.