Cubs at Braves 5/17/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

On Thursday, the Chicago Cubs (22-17, 3rd NL Central) will conclude a three-game series on the road against the Atlanta Braves (25-16, 1st NL East).

The two teams played at Wrigley Field on Monday with Atlanta winning 6-5, which was a makeup game. The two traveled to Atlanta for a three-game series where the Cubs beat the Braves on Tuesday 3-2. Yu Darvish was pitching well on Tuesday before suffering a cramp in his right leg in the fourth inning and he had to leave the game. Willson Contreras helped the Cubs nail two Braves runners at home plate and another one at third. The Cubs were able to rally from down 2-1 to win helped by doubles in the eighth by Albert Almora Jr. and Addison Russell and a Ben Zobrist RBI single. Kris Bryant leads the Cubs with a .288 batting average and .421 OBP. Javier Baez is the team leader in hits with 40, home runs with 10 and RBIs with 36. Chicago has a team batting average of .253, while opposing hitters are averaging .224 at the plate against Cubs pitching. On Thursday, the Cubs will send Jon Lester to the mound. The southpaw this season is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.66, 36 Ks and 20 BBs.

Nick Markakis leads Atlanta with a .337 batting average and a team high 56 hits. Ozzie Albies is the team leader in home runs with 13 and RBIs with 31. Atlanta has a team batting average of .267, while opposing hitters are averaging .234 at the plate against Braves pitching. Atlanta will send Michael Soroka to the mound on Thursday. The right-hander this season is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.68, 15 Ks and 4 BBs.