Time to Get Back on Track at Truist Park
The Chicago Cubs (81-62) desperately need to snap out of a two-game losing streak as we head into Atlanta to face the Braves (64-79) on Monday night. This is exactly the kind of game we should win – the Braves are struggling at 64-79 and coming off a loss themselves.
First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. ET at Truist Park, and oddsmakers have us as -132 favorites. With our playoff hopes on the line, we can’t afford to keep stumbling against teams we should beat.
Shota Imanaga Takes the Mound for Cubs
Our ace Shota Imanaga gets the ball tonight, making his 22nd start of the season. The left-hander has been outstanding for us this year:
- 9-6 record with a 3.15 ERA
- 97 strikeouts in 123⅔ innings
- Looking for his 10th win of the season
If Imanaga can give us six strong innings like he’s done most of the year, we should be in good shape against Atlanta’s struggling offense.
Cubs Offense: Still One of MLB’s Best
Despite the recent skid, our offense remains one of baseball’s most productive units:
Key Offensive Numbers
- 4.9 runs per game (7th in MLB)
- 195 home runs (8th in baseball)
- .249 team batting average (14th in MLB)
- 7.7 strikeouts per game (4th best contact rate)
That contact rate has been huge for us all season – we’re not just swinging for the fences, we’re putting the ball in play and making things happen.
Cubs Players to Watch
Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to be our power leader with 28 homers and 85 RBI while slugging .496. The young outfielder is day-to-day with a knee issue, but we need him in the lineup.
Kyle Tucker has been everything we hoped for when we acquired him – .381 OBP and .472 slugging percentage with 132 hits. He’s also dealing with a minor calf issue but should be good to go.
Nico Hoerner leads our team in batting average at .291 with steady production (6 HR, 56 RBI), while Seiya Suzuki has been clutch with 27 homers and 90 RBI despite a .243 average.
What We’re Facing in Atlanta
The Braves are having a disappointing season at 64-79, but they still have some dangerous hitters we need to be careful with.
Braves Offensive Threats
Matt Olson leads their lineup with a .270 average, 22 home runs, and 79 RBI. He’s the guy who can hurt you in one swing.
Michael Harris II has 79 RBI to lead the team, while Ozzie Albies (.242, 15 HR) provides some pop from second base.
Marcell Ozuna is hitting just .227 but has 20 homers and draws a lot of walks (87), so we can’t overlook him.
Bryce Elder Starting for Atlanta
Elder (6-9) makes his 25th start of the season for the Braves. He’s been inconsistent all year, which should give our hitters opportunities to put up some runs early.
Betting Lines Favor the Cubs
The sportsbooks like our chances tonight:
- Cubs -132 favorites
- Braves +111 underdogs
- Run line: Cubs -1.5
- Over/under: 8.5 runs
We’re 52-28 this season when favored by -132 or better odds (65% winning percentage), so history is on our side.
Injury Concerns for Both Teams
We’re dealing with several key players on the injury report:
- Kyle Tucker (calf) – day-to-day
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (knee) – day-to-day
- Miguel Amaya (ankle) – 10-day IL
- Justin Steele (elbow) – 60-day IL
The good news is Tucker and PCA are both expected to play, which gives us our best offensive lineup.
Atlanta is missing some key pieces too, including Austin Riley (60-day IL with abdominal injury) and several pitchers, which should work in our favor.
Why This Game Matters for Cubs Fans
At 81-62, we’re in solid position for a playoff spot, but these are the games that separate contenders from pretenders. The Braves are playing spoiler at this point, but we can’t let a struggling team derail our postseason hopes.
We’ve been excellent as favorites this season (65-39, 62.5% winning percentage), and facing a team like Atlanta with a 4.48 ERA should be exactly what our offense needs to get back on track.
Series History and Trends
The over has hit in 66 of our 143 games this season, while Atlanta’s games have gone over in 64 of 142 opportunities. With both teams capable of putting up runs and some questionable bullpen depth, the 8.5 total seems reasonable.
Our pitching staff ERA of 3.89 (10th in MLB) is significantly better than Atlanta’s 4.48 (23rd), which should give us an edge in what could be a high-scoring game.
Bottom Line: Time to Take Care of Business
This is the kind of game championship teams win convincingly. Imanaga has been our most consistent starter all season, our offense ranks 7th in MLB in scoring, and we’re facing a Braves team that’s essentially playing out the string.
We can’t afford to let inferior teams hang around in September. Time to get back to winning baseball and solidify our playoff position.
My Prediction: Cubs 6, Braves 4 (Over 8.5 runs)
Go Cubs Go!