Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Monday September 14 2026

The Atlanta Braves visit the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, September 14, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 PM ET with coverage on MLB.TV and MLB Network. Atlanta enters at 88-61 overall and 37-35 on the road, while Chicago is 83-66 overall and 43-31 at home. The Braves have won three straight games and are 3-2 over their last five, while the Cubs have won two straight but are 2-3 during the same stretch. Atlanta leads the season series 2-1 after taking two of three earlier this year. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free MLB picks for more MLB predictions throughout the season.

Starting Pitchers

Atlanta is scheduled to start AJ Smith-Shawver, who enters at 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.81 WHIP through 21 innings. He has allowed 25 hits and four home runs while recording 18 strikeouts against 13 walks. Chicago counters with David Peterson, who is 7-8 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.58 WHIP across 131.1 innings. He has surrendered 148 hits and 14 home runs while striking out 117 and walking 59. Neither starter has particularly strong numbers, but Chicago has the edge based on the lower ERA and WHIP along with a much larger body of work.

Atlanta Brings the Better Overall Pitching Profile

Atlanta enters Monday at 88-61 overall and 37-35 on the road. The Braves have won three consecutive games, beating their last three opponents by scores of 12-2, 6-5 in 11 innings and 3-1. They are 3-2 over their last five, with their two losses coming by scores of 7-2 and 7-1. Atlanta also sits atop the National League East and has already won two of three against Chicago this season.

The Braves are batting .247 with 689 runs, 1,241 hits and 187 home runs. They own a .310 on-base percentage and .410 slugging percentage. Atlanta's pitching staff has been a major strength, carrying a 3.56 ERA and 1.24 WHIP while holding opponents to a .232 batting average. The staff has recorded 1,253 strikeouts against 496 walks, and the Braves are 27-20 in day games.

Atlanta's biggest advantage comes from its pitching staff. The Braves hold a sizable edge in team ERA and also allow a much lower opponent batting average. Their offense does not match Chicago's season-long production, but Atlanta's ability to suppress opposing hitters gives it a strong foundation. The concern is the scheduled starter, whose early-season numbers are significantly weaker than the staff as a whole.

Chicago Owns the More Dangerous Offense

Chicago enters this matchup at 83-66 overall and an impressive 43-31 at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have won two straight games, defeating Pittsburgh 4-3 and 12-2 after dropping three consecutive games against Milwaukee. Chicago is 2-3 over its last five and sits second in the National League Central, 10 games behind Milwaukee.

The Cubs are batting .252 with 796 runs, 1,288 hits and 206 home runs. Chicago carries a .340 on-base percentage and .431 slugging percentage. Its pitching staff owns a 4.19 ERA and 1.27 WHIP while opponents are batting .244. The Cubs have recorded 1,154 strikeouts against 457 walks, and they are 33-31 in day games.

Chicago's clearest advantage is its offensive production. The Cubs have scored 107 more runs than Atlanta while also holding the edge in batting average, hits, home runs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Chicago's 206 home runs give it considerable power upside, and the home record is another positive. The issue is a pitching staff that has been substantially less effective than Atlanta's over the full season.

Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction

Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline

The Chicago Cubs Moneyline is the preferred side. Atlanta has the better overall record and stronger team pitching numbers, but the starting matchup creates a major concern for the Braves. Chicago's scheduled starter owns a lower ERA and WHIP than Atlanta's, while the Cubs also bring the stronger offense and a 43-31 home record. Chicago has scored more runs, hit more home runs and owns sizable advantages in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. With Atlanta's starter carrying a 7.71 ERA and 1.81 WHIP, the Cubs have a strong opportunity to capitalize early.

Pick: Over 9

Take the Over if the total is set at 9 or lower. Both scheduled starters enter with ERAs above 5.00, and Atlanta's starter has allowed 25 hits in only 21 innings. Chicago possesses one of the stronger offensive profiles in this matchup with 796 runs and 206 home runs, while Atlanta has scored 21 runs over its last three games. Even though the Braves own the better overall pitching staff, the vulnerability of both starters creates a strong path toward early scoring and puts the Over in play.

Final Picks: Chicago Cubs Moneyline and Over 9

This preview was completed on Sunday. Starting pitchers, betting lines and other game information are subject to change before the game begins.