Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, 4/28/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves

Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, GA

TV: Bally Sports South

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+110) Atlanta (-130)

Kyle Hendricks and the Chicago Cubs (10-12, 4th in NL Central) go to Truist Park on Wednesday where they'll meet the Atlanta Braves (10-12, 3rd in NL East). The Braves open this matchup at -130 while the Cubs are priced at +110. The O/U is set at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Kyle Hendricks and Huascar Ynoa.

As a team, the Chicago Cubs are scoring 4.5 runs per game, which is 10th in MLB. They are sitting with 99 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .308. The Cubs have earned 28 doubles as a unit and have smacked 30 baseballs out of the park. They have recorded 96 runs batted in in addition to 147 base knocks for the year, while their team batting average is sitting at .211. Chicago has a slugging rate of .395 and have been called out on strikes 224 times, while taking a walk on 83 occasions.

The Cubs have a team earned run average of 4.66 for the season (26th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 205 hitters. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.93 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.42. Cubs pitchers have given up 25 long balls and 102 runs in total (21st in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 106 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.60 as a squad on the season.

The Cubs have dispatched 89 relievers to the mound for the season. The relievers have inherited 47 runners so far this year and 34.0% of those players crossed the plate. They have earned 5 saves this season and have not converted 2 out of their 7 chances to get a save. The Cubs bullpen have a save rate of 71.4% and stepped onto the hill in 21 save situations. The relief pitchers have a total of 13 holds for the year (9th in MLB). Cubs bullpen pitchers have entered the game with runners on base 27 times as well as having 23 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Cubs have turned 70.3% of baseballs in play into outs in their 1,755 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 18th in MLB. The Chicago Cubs have earned 585 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 206 assists and 8 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .990 which ranks 2nd in baseball, and have accumulated 139 double plays.

Hendricks has taken the mound for 1,066 innings and has accounted for 900 strikeouts so far in his career. His earned run average is 3.17 (375 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.112. He has surrendered 952 hits (8.0 hits per nine innings) with 234 free passes. Hendricks (70-50 career record) has a FIP of 3.61 and he has gone up against 4,318 opposing batters in the majors.

Atlanta has hit 30 long balls over the course of the season to go along with 94 RBIs. They have put up 34 two-baggers, while taking a walk 86 times as well as scoring 99 runs. The Atlanta Braves have an on-base percentage of .315 in addition to a team batting average of .219 so far this season. The Braves have a team slugging % of .407 and they average 4.50 runs per outing (9th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 191 occasions (20th in MLB) and have earned a total of 151 base hits.

The Atlanta pitching staff have allowed 110 runs on the season and come in with a team ERA of 4.90 (102 earned runs given up). They have allowed 32 dingers and they surrender 5.29 runs per 9 innings (29th in the league). The Braves hold a team WHIP of 1.389 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.63 as a squad for the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 2.54 (208 strikeouts vs 82 walks). They come in at 22nd in the league as a staff in total hits given up with 178.

Atlanta relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 21.4% out of 28 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 40 times in high leverage situations and on 17 occasions with runners on base. With 27 save situations, the Braves have 17 holds and also 3 blown saves. They are currently ranked 12th in the league holding a save rate of 66.7%, and they have dispatched 79 bullpen pitchers to the mound for the year. Atlanta has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 9 save opportunities and they have come away with 6 saves.

The Atlanta Braves have twisted 11 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .989 (3rd in the majors). The Braves have racked up 187 assists, 8 errors and have earned a total of 563 putouts on the season. In 1,689 innings played, the Braves hold a defensive efficiency of 69.0% (23rd in professional baseball).

In his pro baseball career, Ynoa has surrendered 44 hits while accumulating 45 K's in 46 innings pitched. Ynoa (1-1 career record) has a 5.59 ERA while surrendering 8.5 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered a total of 29 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.329 and a FIP of 4.7. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.50 and he has gone up against 200 hitters during his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Atlanta (-130)

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