Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/19/2022

Time: 2:20 p.m. ET

Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Where to watch: Bally Sports Southeast, Marquee Sports Network

DraftKings: Braves -165, Cubs +140

BetMGM: Braves -175, Cubs +145

Caesars: Braves -169, Cubs +150

Braves: 37-29

Cubs: 25-40

So, the Atlanta Braves have figured out how to lose. And not just that, but losing back-to-back games ... against the Chicago Cubs of all teams. Baseball remains a weird sport that we can't comprehend from.

The Braves, one day after having their 14-game winning streak end at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, lost Saturday to the tune of 6-3 thanks to Wilson Contreras' 3-hit day against his younger brother William for the first time. It was the first time Wilson and William shared a field together, both at catcher.

The series will conclude Sunday in Chicago with the Cubs looking for the shocking sweep.

Rafael Ortega added a home run, as the Cubs put 13 hits on the board against Atlanta, with young star Kyle Wright giving up five earned in six innings of work. He struck out eight, but Justin Steele had the more productive day of the starting pitchers, going five innings and giving up just two.

Every player in the Cubs lineup registered a hit, with Alfonso Rivas and Andrelton Simmons tallying two each from the bottom of the order. It was that kind of game for the Cubs.

Atlanta got nine hits and drew three walks (Dansby Swanson reached base on two of those), but not much other than that. Adam Duvall went deep in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 4-2, but the Cubs answered with a run each in the sixth and seventh.

Austin Riley tallied his 40th RBI of the season, while Ronald Acuna Jr. went 2 for 4 from the leadoff spot.

The Cubs have bounced back nicely since losing 10 in a row. It started Friday with a 1-0 win over the Braves, coming off the heels of losing a four-game set with the San Diego Padres in which they were outscored by a ridiculous 41-15, including a game in which they gave up 19 runs.

Sometimes you just need a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to win a game like that, which is exactly what happened Friday. Christopher Morel drove in the lone run that won the game.

“It helped me concentrate on what I needed to do, what to focus on with that tough lefty,” Morel said. “Wilson talked to me and told me, ”Don't look for stuff low around the plate. Look high.'"

To give you an idea of how bad things really were for the Cubs, they were batting .239 and struck out an average of 8.3 times per game during this 10-game losing streak. Only 30 runs were batted in, and nine homers were hit.

“The first loss in June is good when you’re in the middle of the month,” said Matt Olson.

I just have a hard time believing there will be a sweep at the hands of the Cubs. For as great of a weekend this is for them to not only end the losing streak, but to end the Braves' ridiculous winning streak, is something to be proud of. But I can't in good faith expect the Braves to lose all three this weekend. Braves win 7-4

Braves are 45-15 the past three seasons as a road favorite of -125 or more.

Braves are 52-23 the past three seasons as a road favorite.

Cubs are 6-15 as a home underdog this season.

Cubs are 15-25 against NL East opponents the past three seasons.

Braves:
Ronald Acuna Jr. (R) RF
Dansby Swanson (R) SS
Austin Riley (R) 3B
Matt Olson (L) 1B
Travis d'Arnaud (R) C
Marcell Ozuna (R) DH
Adam Duvall (R) LF
Orlando Arcia (R) 2B
Michael Harris II (L) CF
SP - Ian Anderson

Cubs:
Christopher Morel (R) CF
Willson Contreras (R) DH
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Ian Happ (S) LF
Frank Schwindel (R) 1B
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Yan Gomes (R) C
Jason Heyward (L) RF
Andrelton Simmons (R) 2B
SP - Kyle Hendricks