Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves prediction, MLB picks for 05/13/2024, best bets and odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves

Date: Monday May 13, 2024

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia

TV: Bally Sports South

Odds/point spread: Chicago (+130) Atlanta (-154)

The Atlanta Braves (24-12) will face the Chicago Cubs (24-17) on Monday at Truist Park. The moneyline for this match puts Chicago at +130 while Atlanta comes in at -154. The plus/minus is set at 7.5. The expected starting pitchers will be Shota Imanaga and Reynaldo Lopez.

The Cubs won 60 doubles as a team and hit 42 baseballs out of the stadium. Chicago has a .392 slugging percentage and has struck out 353 times, while drawing walks 151 times. As a unit, the Chicago Cubs average 4.8 runs per outing, which ranks them 10th in the league. They have totaled 178 runs and 316 hits this season, and their plate average stands at .238. They notched a total of 190 points while holding a team on-base percentage of .321.

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The Cubs compiled a team ERA of 3.85 for the season (12th in baseball), and the staff signed 341 batters. Cubs pitchers have given up 37 home runs and also 173 total runs (17th in the league). They have walked 130 opposing players and their FIP is 3.82 as a unit so far this year. Chicago gave up 323 hits (8.2 per 9 innings) as well as 152 earned runs. They have a strikeout/walk ratio of 2.62 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.28.

Cubs pitchers competed with opponents on base 43 times and made 52 appearances in high-leverage situations. The bullpen has 22 catches for the year (14th in MLB). The Cubs bullpen has a 57.9% save percentage and has come into play in 42 save situations. They have made 11 saves so far this season and have missed 8 of their 19 save opportunities. Relief pitchers have inherited 62 baserunners so far this year and 35.5% of those runners have crossed the plate. The Cubs sent 130 relievers to the hill this year.

The Chicago Cubs have had 1,067 outs this year, in addition to 328 assists and 26 errors. Their fieldout rate remains at .982, which ranks 27th in professional baseball, and has a total of 24 double plays. The Cubs have turned 69.5 percent of batted balls in play into outs over their 3,201 innings, ranking them 19th in baseball.

Imanaga has gone up the hill for 41 frames and has 43 strikeouts thus far in his career. His ERA is 1.08 (5 ER allowed) and his WHIP is 0.816. He gave up 29 hits (6.3 hits per nine innings) and had 5 free passes. Imanaga (5-0 career win-loss record) has a 2.40 FIP while facing 160 opposing batters in the majors.

Atlanta has recorded 40 home runs this year and 173 RBIs. They recorded 74 doubles, walking 115 times and driving in 180 runs. The Atlanta Braves have an OBP of .325 in addition to a team batting average of .255 for the season. The Braves have a .418 slugging percentage and an average of 5.00 runs per game (5th in the league). They struck out 312 times (23rd in the league) and totaled 315 hits.

The Braves have a team WHIP of 1.201 in addition to having a FIP of 3.86 as a pitching staff this year. They currently have a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 8.50 (307 strikeouts to 110 walks). They come in 2nd in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 278. They have given up 37 home runs and are producing 3.73 runs per 9 innings (8th in the league). Atlanta’s pitching staff has produced 134 runs this year while having a team ERA of 3.45 (124 earned runs given up).

Atlanta asked relievers to enter the contest in 17 save opportunities and they produced 11 saves. They are currently ranked 17th in the league with a 64.7% save rate and have sent 112 relief pitchers to the hill during the campaign. Their relief pitchers took the field 39 times in high-leverage situations and 29 times with runners on base. Atlanta’s relief pitchers have an inherited scoring percentage of 33.3% on their 33 inherited runners. With 37 save situations, the Braves had 20 catches and 6 blown saves.

Over their 2,910 innings on the field, the Braves have a defensive efficiency of 71.3% (6th in professional baseball). The Atlanta Braves have turned 34 double plays and have a defensive rating of 0.991 (1st in baseball). The Braves have accumulated 360 assists, 12 errors and totaled 970 putouts for the year.

So far in his career, Lopez has allowed 661 hits while earning 653 Ks in 715 innings. Lopez (career win-loss record 41-50) had a 4.18 ERA while allowing 8.3 hits per 9 innings. He allowed a total of 332 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.292 and a FIP of 4.4. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is 2.48 and he has faced 3,032 batters so far in his career.

Who will win tonight’s MLB game against the spread or the moneyline?

Guy Bruhn’s choice: take Chicago (+130)

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