Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/16/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, April 16, 2021

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (-115) Chicago (+105)

Zach Davies and the Chicago Cubs (5-7, 4th in NL Central) play the Atlanta Braves (4-8, 5th in NL East) at Wrigley Field on Friday. The Braves open this contest at -115 while the Cubs are coming in at +105. The total is set at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Drew Smyly and Zach Davies.

Atlanta has a slugging rate of .418 and have been rung up 112 times, while drawing a walk on 35 occasions. They have recorded 48 runs batted in as well as 85 hits for the season, while their team batting average comes in at .219. The Braves have earned 21 doubles as a team and have smacked 18 balls out of the park. They have earned a total of 52 runs and hold an OBP of .290. As a team, the Atlanta Braves are notching 4.3 runs per game, which ranks them 16th in the league.

Braves pitchers have given up 13 home runs and also 58 runs (20th in the league). They have walked 40 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 3.73 as a unit so far this season. They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 3.15 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.36. The Braves hold a team ERA of 4.53 so far this year (19th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 126 hitters.

The Braves relievers have earned a save rate of 60.0% and stepped onto the hill in 12 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 12 runners this season with 16.7% of them crossed the plate. Braves relief pitchers have entered the game with opponents on base 8 times in addition to having 28 appearances in high leverage situations. The Braves have sent 45 relief pitchers to the hill so far this year. The bullpen have racked up 7 holds on the season (10th in baseball). They have earned 3 saves on the season and have not converted 2 out of their 5 save opportunities.

Smyly has pitched in 721 innings and is sitting with 725 punch outs during his MLB career. His earned run average is 4.15 (333 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.253. He has conceded 678 base hits (8.5 hits per nine innings) and has had 226 walks. Smyly (35-35 career record) has a FIP of 4.16 while he has faced 3,018 hitters during his time in the majors.

The Chicago Cubs have accounted for an OBP of .254 as well as a team batting average of .163 so far this year. They have been rung up on 122 occasions (3rd in MLB) and have tallied 59 hits. Chicago has knocked in 13 home runs this year as well as 32 runs batted in. The Cubs hold a team slugging % of .307 and they are earning 2.67 runs per game (30th in the league). They have put up 11 two-baggers, while getting a free base 37 times as well as scoring 32 runs.

The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.352 and have a FIP of 3.93 as a unit on the season. They rank 12th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 88. The Chicago pitching staff have given up 52 runs for the season while having an ERA of 4.37 (51 earned runs surrendered). They currently have a K/BB ratio of 2.22 (120 strikeouts against 54 walks). They have surrendered 11 HR's and they allow 4.46 runs per 9 innings (14th in baseball).

Chicago has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 5 save chances and they have recorded 4 saves. They are ranked 7th in the league with a save rate of 80.0%, and they have dispatched 46 relief pitchers to the mound for the season. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 15 times in high leverage situations and on 15 occasions with runners on. Chicago relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 27.6% out of 29 inherited runners. With 14 save situations, the Cubs have earned 8 holds and also 1 blown save.

During his pro baseball career, Davies has surrendered 682 base knocks while totaling 504 strikeouts in 691 innings. Davies (51-37 record in his career) holds a 3.87 earned run average while allowing 8.9 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 297 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.284 and a FIP of 4.2. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.46 and he has faced 2,903 opposing hitters during his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago (+105)

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