Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, 5/14/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Atlanta Braves

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, GA

TV: Braves.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+132) Atlanta (-160)

Truist Park is the location where the Atlanta Braves (29-13) will go up against the Chicago Cubs (27-15) on Thursday. The moneyline on this contest has Chicago at +132 while Atlanta opens at -160. The total is 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Ben Brown and Chris Sale.

As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are recording 5.2 runs per game, which has them sitting at 4th in the league. They have notched a total of 217 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .344. The Cubs have accumulated 65 doubles as a squad and have hit 52 balls out of the park. They have tallied 200 runs batted in and 353 hits so far this season, and their batting average is .248. Chicago is slugging .412 and have been called out on strikes 337 times, while drawing a walk on 196 occasions.

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The Cubs have an earned run average of 3.85 on the campaign (10th in the league), and the staff has rung up 342 hitters. Cubs pitchers have surrendered 52 home runs and also 173 total runs (10th in baseball). They have walked 131 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 4.24 as a squad on the campaign. Chicago has relinquished 320 hits (7.7 per 9 innings) and also 160 earned runs. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.61 and the pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.21.

Cubs relief pitchers have entered the game with runners on base 43 times and also have had 40 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have accumulated 9 holds this season (30th in baseball). The Cubs relievers have a save rate of 60.0% and have come into the game in 27 save situations. They have 9 saves so far this year and have blown 6 of their 15 chances to save the game. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 61 base runners on the year and 29.5% of those players crossing the plate. The Cubs have sent 125 relief pitchers to the mound on the season.

The Cubs have turned 72.3% of balls in play into outs in their 3,366 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 3rd in pro baseball. The Chicago Cubs have a total of 1,122 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 387 assists and 20 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .987 which is 15th in MLB, and have accumulated 30 double plays.

Brown has thrown 190 innings and has earned 212 punch outs in his career. Brown (7-12 career record) holds a FIP of 4.56 while he has gone up against 808 hitters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 4.63 (98 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.261. He has surrendered 180 base hits (8.5 hits per nine innings) with 60 free passes.

The Atlanta Braves hold an on-base percentage of .335 in addition to a team batting average of .272 on the year. They have been called out on strikes on 328 instances (24th in MLB) and have notched a total of 394 base hits. Atlanta has knocked in 59 home runs on the campaign and 228 RBIs. The Braves have a slugging percentage of .452 and they average 5.55 runs per contest (1st in baseball). They have tallied 74 two-baggers, while taking a walk 131 times and putting up 233 runs.

The Braves are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.147 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.92 as a squad this season. They rank 1st in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 281. The Atlanta pitching staff have given up 143 runs so far this season and come in with a team ERA of 3.11 (129 earned runs yielded). They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.90 (368 strikeouts against 147 walks). They have conceded 42 home runs and they relinquish 3.45 runs per 9 innings (1st in the league).

They are ranked 2nd in baseball with a save rate of 82.4%, and they have dispatched 128 relievers to the hill for the year. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill 40 times in high leverage situations and also on 23 occasions with runners on base. With 45 save situations, the Braves have accumulated 26 holds in addition to 3 blown saves. Atlanta has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the hill in 17 save chances and they have earned 14 saves. Atlanta relievers hold an inherited score rate of 27.0% out of 37 inherited base runners.

The Atlanta Braves have turned 31 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .988 (8th in pro baseball). The Braves have 338 assists, 17 errors and have a total of 1,119 putouts so far this season. Out of their 3,357 innings on the field, the Braves are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 73.9% (1st in pro baseball).

So far in his career, Sale has given up 1,723 hits while he has totaled 2,635 punch outs in 2,133 innings pitched. He has given up a total of 709 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.042 and being the owner of a FIP of 2.9. He has a K/BB ratio of 5.28 and he has faced 8,580 hitters in his pro baseball career. Sale (151-90 career win-loss record) has a 2.99 ERA while giving up 7.3 hits per 9 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (+132)

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