They had lost 10 consecutive games but are playing like World Series favorites against the Atlanta Braves. They have beat the Braves twice now and are in a position to get their first series sweep of the season.
The Braves, who are in second place in the NL East, have lost 1-0 and 6-3 to Chicago. They are sending Ian Anderson to the mound on Sunday to try and salvage a victory against the Cubs, who are in fourth place in the NL Central.
Can Chicago keep the momentum going or are the Braves going to wake up out of their stupor and win? Find out with our free MLB betting picks and predictions for Braves vs. Cubs on June 19.
Braves vs Cubs odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The Braves are once again a solid favorite to win on Sunday, opening at -149 and rising to -154 at a couple of sportsbooks. The Cubs began at +130 and have gone up to +140. The total has stayed at 8, with the Over at -115 and the Under at +105.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
Braves vs Cubs predictions
Picks made on 6/19/2022 at 2:30 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Braves vs Cubs game info
• Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
• Date: Sunday, June 19, 2022
• First pitch: 2:20 p.m. ET
• TV: BSN, MSN
Braves vs Cubs betting preview
Starting pitchers
Ian Anderson (5-3, 4.81 ERA): Anderson has been giving up runs in both June and May, but the difference is his team has provided run support this month. The 24-year-old right-hander has had three starts in June and managed to get wins in two of them. That’s despite allowing two runs against Oakland on June 8 and five runs on June 2 against Colorado. In his last start, Anderson only went four innings against the Washington Nationals, giving up four runs on six hits.
Kyle Hendricks (2-5, 4.95 ERA): The 32-year-old veteran has five losses on the season and an ERA that is flirting with reaching five, but seems to be pitching better than those numbers would indicate. In his last start, the righty came back after sitting out two scheduled starts with an undisclosed issue. He faced a potent San Diego Padres lineup but only allowed one run on four hits through five innings. His start before that on June 1, he took on the Milwaukee Brewers and went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Braves: Ozzie Albies 2B (Out), Tyler Matzek RP (Out), Eddie Rosario LF (Out), Manny Pina C (Out).
Cubs: Marcus Stroman SP (Out), Michael Hermosillo CF (Out), David Bote 3B (Out), Nick Madrigal 2B (Out), Frank Schwindel 1B (Out), Seiya Suzuki LF (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Cubs are 5-2 in their last seven home games with totals set between 7 and 8.5. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Cubs
Braves vs Cubs picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Moneyline analysis
The Chicago Cubs were mired in a 10-game losing streak, then the Atlanta Braves came to town. They have beaten the Braves as the underdog twice and are going for their first series sweep of the season on Sunday.
It is mystifying how Chicago has handled the Braves. Atlanta has the 12th-best batting average in the majors, as well as being 10th in hits, eighth in runs, and eighth in RBI. They are also second in home runs but have just one dinger in these two games. The Cubs' pitching has also limited Atlanta to three runs in two games, well below their per-game average of 4.73.
Now, the Cubs put the ball in the hands of Kyle Hendricks in the hope of getting a sweep. The 32-year-old righty had been on the shelf for a couple of weeks but returned four days ago to turn in a solid five-inning performance against the San Diego Padres.
Whether Hendricks can build off that start remains to be seen, but manager David Ross said he is confident in Hendricks’ ability. The numbers are a bit shocking, but he has improved greatly from the beginning of the season when his ERA at one point was 7.00 and he didn’t have an outing that went past five innings.
The Cubs are 2-5 in their last seven Game 3s of a series, and logic would say the Braves are due, but this series has been anything but logical.
Prediction: Cubs moneyline (+140 at Caesars)
Over/Under analysis
Both pitchers have a tendency to occasionally blow up. Hendricks has given up three or more runs in six of his 12 starts. In three of those games, he surrendered six, six, and seven runs.
Ian Anderson, too, is prone to allowing a lot of runs. In 12 games, the righty has had five games where he has been tagged for four or more runs. His largest run total in a game, however, is five.
Still, both pitchers are hovering dangerously close to an ERA of five, and both the Braves and Cubs have the offense to take advantage of their opponents’ pitcher. As mentioned above, Atlanta is in the Top 10 of most offensive categories.
The Cubs have struggled offensively. Chicago is 15th in hits, 23rd in runs, and 24th in RBI. Still, they have scored seven runs in two games against the Braves. They are 17th in home runs and Anderson has given up eight homers so far this season.
I like this game to go Over the total.
Prediction: Over 8 (-115 at BetRivers)
Best bet
While Hendricks has held his own against right-handed batters, he has struggled against lefties. He has faced more left-handed batters than righties (139 vs. 107) and has given up way more hits, runs, and homers to those on the left side of the plate.
He has allowed 11 home runs this season, tied for seventh in the majors. Nine of those home runs have been against left-handed batters.
Atlanta’s Matt Olson is a left-handed batter with power. The first baseman has eight home runs this year. His last one came June 12 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and reliever Chase De Jong, a righty.
Olson is due for another dinger and he could get one off a vulnerable Hendricks.
Pick: Matt Olson to hit a home run (+320 at FanDuel)
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