The Atlanta Braves host the Chicago Cubs on May 13, 2026. First pitch from Truist Park is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on BravesVsn.
The Cubs are favored by -135 on the moneyline and by -1.5 (+125) on the run line. The Braves are +110 on the moneyline and +1.5 (-155) on the run line. The total is set at 8.5 runs (-120o / +100u).
Find my MLB picks and Cubs vs Braves prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Cubs vs Braves Prediction
- Cubs vs Braves Pick: Cubs Moneyline (-135, play to -140)
My Cubs vs Braves best bet is on Chicago to win outright. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cubs vs Braves Odds
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +125 | 8.5 -120o / 100u | -135 |
| Braves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -155 | 8.5 -120o / 100u | +110 |
- Cubs vs Braves moneyline: Cubs -135, Braves +110
- Cubs vs Braves over/under: 8.5 (-120o / +100u)
- Cubs vs Braves spread: Cubs -1.5 (+125), Braves +1.5 (-155)
Cubs vs Braves Probable Pitchers
| LHP Shota Imanaga (CHC) | Stat | RHP JR Ritchie (ATL) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-2 | W-L | 1-0 |
| 1.4 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | -0.3 |
| 2.28/3.03 | ERA / xERA | 3.63/5.11 |
| 2.80/3.40 | FIP / xFIP | 6.87/5.41 |
| 21.4% | K-BB% | 1.3% |
| 32.5% | GB% | 40.8% |
| .231 | BABIP | .222 |
| 96 | Stuff+ | 93 |
| 107 | Location+ | 97 |
Cubs vs Braves MLB Betting Preview
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
Aided by some seemingly sound suggestions from pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, Imanaga has made some adjustments following a more mediocre 2025 campaign, and the results have been excellent thus far.
Hottovy believed Imanaga needed to be less aggressive in batter-friendly counts and live with the possibility of a few more walks to limit more significant damage.
Imanaga allowed 1.93 HR/9 last season but has allowed only 0.76 HR/9 throughout his initial 47 and 1/3 innings, which is a major reason his ERA is back into the truly elite category.
Imanaga's strikeout rate is up to 28.3% this season, and his chase and whiff-rates have also climbed significantly. He's elevated the usage of his splitter and sinker this season, which has made his four-seam usage less predictable, a pitch that batters torched last season and have still hit effectively thus far this year.
While the Cubs' pitching staff has become fairly depleted, it has no regular position players on the IL and will provide a tough matchup for Ritchie. Chicago has hit a wRC+ of 117 this season, holds the highest BB/K ratio in MLB, and the fifth highest xwOBA.
Atlanta Braves Betting Preview
The Braves currently rank first in wRC+ this season and rank first in averaging 5.55 runs scored per game. They rank first in xSLG rate and have struck out only 20.4% of the time. Ronald Acuña Jr.'s absence from the lineup does hurt their overall projection, though he has been far from the team's most productive batter to this point.
Atlanta's offense may need to manage a respectable output off Imanaga to have success in this matchup, as Ritchie could struggle with a Cubs lineup that has also been among the league's most productive.
Ritchie got off to an incredible start in Triple A this season, pitching to an ERA of 0.99, but he did walk 4.28 batters per nine and held an xFIP of 4.44. He's found success where it counts throughout his first three MLB starts of the season, but he has struggled with command in walking 6.23 batters per nine and has seemingly had favorable luck on balls in play with an xFIP of 5.41.
Ritchie's stuff does not grade out overly well, and he has allowed a lot of hard contact when he has pitched inside the zone, which is a concern given his overall lack of command.
Cubs vs Braves Pick, Betting Analysis
The Braves lead baseball in most key offensive categories and hold a +90 run differential. But with respect to what they have accomplished so far, they do look to be overvalued to be priced this closely to an elite Cubs lineup in a matchup where Chicago will have its ace on the mound to take on a highly unconvincing starter.
Perhaps in time the league will start to make some adjustments to Imanaga's altered approach. However Ritchie appears to be due for some significant regression, and the Cubs should be capable of spotting Imanaga plenty of run support in this matchup.
Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline (-135, play to -140)
