Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, 4/29/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves

Date: Thursday, April 29, 2021

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, GA

TV: Bally Sports South

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+112) Atlanta (-132)

Kyle Wright and the Atlanta Braves (11-12, 2nd in NL East) host the Chicago Cubs (10-13, 5th in NL Central) at Truist Park on Thursday. The Braves open this matchup at -132 while the Cubs are priced at +112. The total has been set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers are Adbert Alzolay and Kyle Wright.

As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are scoring 4.3 runs per contest, which ranks them 14th in MLB. They have accounted for 99 runs and have an OBP of .301. The Cubs have hit 28 two-baggers as a team and have smacked 30 baseballs out of the park. They have tallied 96 runs batted in and 149 hits so far this year, and their average at the plate is sitting at .206. Chicago has a slugging % of .383 and have been called out on strikes 237 times, while being walked on 84 occasions.

The Cubs are sitting with a team ERA of 4.61 so far this season (28th in the league), and they have struck out 218 hitters. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.98 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.43. Cubs pitchers have allowed 26 home runs and 107 runs in total (21st in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 110 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.52 as a squad for the season.

The Cubs relief pitchers have a save percentage of 71.4% and has stepped onto the mound in 21 save situations. The relievers have inherited 50 base runners this season with 32.0% of them crossed home plate. Cubs bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with opponents on base 28 times and also have had 23 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have dispatched 93 relief pitchers to the mound for the year. The relief pitchers have recorded 13 holds over the course of the season (12th in the league). They have accumulated 5 saves over the course of the season and have blown 2 out of their 7 save chances.

The Cubs have transformed 69.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 1,827 innings on the field, ranking them 20th in MLB. The Chicago Cubs have a tally of 609 putouts this year, in addition to 210 assists and 9 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .989 which is 4th in the majors, and have a total of 147 double plays.

Alzolay has thrown 48 frames and has earned 59 punch outs during his pro baseball career. Alzolay (2-4 record in his career) sits with a FIP of 4.39 while going up against 204 opposing hitters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 4.81 (26 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.253. He has given up 34 base hits (6.3 hits per 9 innings) and has 27 free passes.

Atlanta has a total of 31 home runs this year to go along with 99 RBIs. They have recorded 37 doubles, while taking a walk 90 times and scoring 104 runs. The Atlanta Braves have accounted for an on-base percentage of .318 and a batting average of .223 this year. The Braves have a team slugging percentage of .410 and they score 4.52 runs per contest (9th in the league). They have struck out on 204 occasions (17th in the league) and have earned a total of 162 hits.

The Braves hold a team WHIP of 1.340 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.43 as a team for the season. Their K/BB ratio sits at 2.66 (221 strikeouts vs 83 walks). They are currently ranked 19th in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 180. They have allowed 32 homers and they surrender 5.05 runs per 9 innings (27th in the league). The Atlanta pitching staff have surrendered 110 runs this season and come in with a team ERA of 4.68 (102 earned runs allowed).

Atlanta bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 21.4% out of 28 inherited base runners. Their relievers have come in 41 times in high leverage situations in addition to 17 occasions with runners on base. Sitting with 28 save situations, the Braves have accumulated 18 holds and also 3 blown saves. They are currently ranked 13th in the league with a save rate of 66.7%, and they have sent 81 relievers onto the diamond over the course of the season. Atlanta has called on relief pitchers to step onto the hill in 9 save opportunities and they have tallied 6 saves.

The Atlanta Braves have turned 11 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .990 (2nd in professional baseball). The Braves have racked up 197 assists, 8 errors and have earned 590 putouts for the season. In their 1,770 innings played, the Braves have earned a efficiency on defense of 69.6% (21st in pro baseball).

So far in his MLB career, Wright has allowed 66 base knocks and he has 58 punch outs in 68 frames. He has conceded 46 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.632 and being the owner of a FIP of 6.4. He has a K/BB ratio of 1.29 and he has gone up against 311 hitters so far in his career. Wright (2-7 career win-loss record) has a 6.09 ERA and has conceded 8.7 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Atlanta (-132)

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