On the evening of May 15, 2024, at Truist Park, baseball fans will be treated to a compelling matchup between the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves, set to commence at 07:20 PM. Light rain is expected to add an extra layer of challenge for the players. Javier Assad, with an impressive ERA of 1.701, will helm the pitching duties for the Cubs, whereas Charlie Morton, carrying a 3.140 ERA, will take the mound for the Braves.
As of now, the Cubs sit 5th in the 2024 NL Central standings, holding a 24-19 record and a 0.56 winning percentage. Their divisional games reflect a 4-2 record, placing them 2nd within the Central. Recently, the Cubs have claimed 5 wins in their last 10 games but are currently navigating through a 2-game losing streak. Their home and away records also paint a varied performance picture, standing at 13-6 and 11-13, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Braves are positioned 3rd in the NL East with a 26-13 record, achieving a 0.67 winning percentage. They have flourished slightly better in division contests with a 10-5 record, positioning them also at 2nd in the East. The Braves have won 6 of their recent 10 games and are on a 2-win streak, reflecting more consistency. They boast stronger home (15-4) and road (11-9) performances compared to the Cubs. Both teams have shown solid run tallies with the Braves at 192 runs scored and 138 allowed, while the Cubs have scored 195 with 186 runs allowed.
In terms of betting odds for this game, the point spread is set at -1.5 in favor of the Braves. The over/under is pegged at 8.5 runs, indicating expectations of a moderately high-scoring game. For those looking at moneyline bets, the Cubs are tagged at +148, suggesting a decent payoff for a bet on the underdog, whereas the Braves are more heavily favored at -177. These odds suggest a slight lean towards a Braves victory, but betting on the Cubs could prove lucrative should they pull off an upset.