The Atlanta Braves (28-18) and Chicago Cubs (27-23) meet for the finale of a 3-game series Thursday. First pitch from Wrigley Field is set for 2:20 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Braves vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Atlanta leads 3-2

Atlanta routed Chicago 9-2 on Wednesday while covering as a -123 road favorite. The Braves led 2-1 before scoring 6 runs in the 7th inning to take control. Atlanta is 2-1 in its last 3 games.

LHP Justin Steele took the loss for Chicago, pitching 6 1/3 innings with  5 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, and 5 K. The Cubs have lost 2 of their last 3.

Braves at Cubs projected starters

RHP AJ Smith-Shawver vs. RHP Ben Brown 

Smith-Shawver (1-2, 6.10 ERA) makes his season debut and 7th career MLB appearance. He has a 1.52 WHIP, 4.9 BB/9 and 10.2 K/9 in 31 IP at AAA.

• Career vs. Cubs: 0-0, 2.45 ERA (3 2/3 IP, 1 ER), 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K in 1 start
• Career in the majors: 1-0, 4.26 ERA (25 1/3 IP, 12 ER), 17 H, 11 BB, 20 K across 5 starts and 1 relief appearance

Brown (1-1, 3.57 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.25 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 9.9 K/9 in 35 1/3 IP.

• Last start: No-decision, 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 5 K in a 7-6 loss vs. the New York Mets on May 2
• Career vs. Atlanta: 0-0, 4.50 ERA (2 IP, 1 ER), 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K in 1 relief appearance

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Braves at Cubs odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:16 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Braves -125 (bet $126 to win $100) | Cubs +108 (bet $100 to win $108)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (+130) | Cubs +1.5 (-160)
• Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Braves at Cubs picks and predictions

Prediction

Braves 4, Cubs 3

Moneyline

LEAN BRAVES (-125).

Atlanta is 2-1 in its last 3 games while Chicago is only 2-4 in its last 6 home games. The Braves are also 6-2 in their last 8 matchups vs. Chicago overall.

This is only a lean because Chicago is 3-1 in its last 4 meetings with Atlanta in Chicago and because both teams are only 4-6 in their last 10 games.

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

I like the Cubs to cover here as +1.5 (-160) underdogs, especially given how cold Atlanta has been by its own standards recently. However, the line is not worth the risk of betting on as currently set, so bet on the moneyline and/or total instead.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 9 (-105).

The Under has hit in 3 of Chicago’s last 4 games and is 6-3-1 in its last 10 overall. For Atlanta, the Under is 2-1 in its last 3 outings and 7-3 in its last 10. The Under has also hit in 5 of the last 6 Atlanta-Chicago matchups.

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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta police are seeking the public’s help finding a missing boy.

Police said Kandarius Bennett, 12, was reported missing around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said he was last seen near 2045 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW.

Bennett is 4 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs around 105 pounds. He was last seen a blue shirt, black jeans and green shoes.

Anyone with information should call 911 or the Atlanta Police Department at 404-546-4235.

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.

ATLANTA – Zoo Atlanta is celebrating the birth of a crowned lemur.

The newborn was delivered via Cesarean section on May 20 to mother Sava after labor stalled, suggesting a breech presentation. The infant is the fourth surviving offspring of experienced parents Sava, 10, and male Xonsu, 11.

Crowned lemurs are found on the northernmost tip of Madagascar – the only place on Earth where the more than 100 known species of lemur are found. Madagascar is also home to some of Earth’s most threatened wildlife. 

Like all lemurs, crowned lemurs face pressing threats from habitat loss and habitat fragmentation as a result of slash-and-burn agriculture; charcoal production; and mining for gold and sapphires. Lemurs are also captured for the pet trade, despite the fact that, like all primates, they are not suitable pets.

Sava and her newborn are currently bonding behind the scenes in the Zoo’s lemur complex and in coming days, may be spotted in the Zoo’s Living Treehouse. The Living Treehouse, which also hosts a diversity of bird life, is home to two other lemur species: ringtailed lemurs, which are endangered, and black-and-white-ruffed lemurs, which are critically endangered.

As the weeks go by, the infant’s developing coloration will be the primary indicator of whether it is male or female. Females are primarily gray with orange crowns, while males are a darker red-brown in color, with black and orange crowns.