Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Wednesday September 16 2026

The Atlanta Braves visit the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 PM ET with coverage on MLB.TV. Atlanta enters at 88-63 overall and 37-36 on the road, while Chicago is 84-67 overall and an impressive 44-32 at home. The Cubs won the completed series opener 7-3, while Atlanta has dropped two consecutive completed games after winning three straight. Chicago has gone 3-2 over its last five completed games. DraftKings lists Atlanta at +119 on the moneyline and Chicago at -143, with the Braves +1.5 at -169 and the Cubs -1.5 at +139. The total is 8 runs, with the Over at -102 and Under at -118. Be sure to check out our free MLB picks for more MLB predictions throughout the season.

Starting Pitchers

Atlanta is scheduled to start JR Ritchie, who enters at 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.43 WHIP through 58 innings. Ritchie has allowed 47 hits and nine home runs while recording 53 strikeouts against 36 walks. Chicago counters with Shota Imanaga, who is 10-10 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.12 WHIP through 162.1 innings. Imanaga has surrendered 145 hits and 34 home runs while striking out 156 and walking only 37. Chicago owns the clear starting-pitching advantage based on the supplied numbers. Imanaga has the better ERA and WHIP, has worked more than 100 additional innings, and has nearly the same number of walks as Ritchie despite pitching almost three times as many innings.

Atlanta Looks to Rebound After Consecutive Losses

Atlanta enters Wednesday with the best record in the NL East at 88-63, although its 37-36 road mark has been far less dominant than its overall record. The Braves have gone 3-2 over their last five completed games but enter this matchup following consecutive losses. Atlanta fell 7-3 to Chicago in the completed series opener after losing 9-4 in its previous game. Before those defeats, the Braves had put together three consecutive victories by scores of 12-2, 6-5 and 3-1. That stretch illustrates how dangerous Atlanta can be when its offense gets rolling, but the Braves now need to regain that form away from home.

Atlanta is batting .247 with 1,261 hits, 696 runs and 189 home runs this season. The Braves carry a .311 on-base percentage and .410 slugging percentage. Their greater strength has been on the mound, where Atlanta owns a 3.62 team ERA and 1.25 WHIP while holding opponents to a .233 batting average. The Braves have recorded 1,262 strikeouts against 504 walks and have produced one of the stronger overall pitching profiles represented in the supplied matchup statistics.

The challenge Wednesday is that Atlanta's season-long pitching advantage is reduced considerably by the starting matchup. The Braves have the better overall staff ERA by more than half a run, but their scheduled starter enters with a 4.50 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 36 walks in only 58 innings. That could be problematic against a Chicago offense that owns the superior batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home-run total and run production. Atlanta has enough offensive ability to keep this competitive, but the Braves will need a better performance on the mound than they received in the completed opener.

Chicago's Powerful Offense Has Another Favorable Matchup

Chicago enters Wednesday at 84-67 overall and has been particularly effective at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs are 44-32. Chicago is 3-2 across its last five completed games and opened this series with a convincing 7-3 victory. The Cubs have also recorded recent wins of 4-3 and 12-2, while their two losses during the five-game sample came by scores of 4-3 and 8-6. Chicago has therefore scored at least four runs in each of its last five completed games, including seven or more twice.

The Cubs have the stronger offensive profile in this matchup. Chicago is batting .251 with 1,303 hits, 806 runs and 208 home runs while posting a .340 on-base percentage and .431 slugging percentage. Those numbers give the Cubs advantages over Atlanta in every one of those offensive categories. Chicago's pitching has not been as strong overall, with a 4.18 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and .245 opponent batting average, but the Cubs have still recorded 1,170 strikeouts against 467 walks.

Chicago's biggest strength Wednesday is the combination of its offense, home-field performance and favorable starting-pitching matchup. The Cubs have scored 110 more runs than Atlanta this season and have already produced seven runs against the Braves in the completed opener. Their 44-32 home record also stands in contrast to Atlanta's nearly even 37-36 road mark. With the better scheduled starter on the mound and an offense that has been significantly more productive over the full season, Chicago has several statistical advantages supporting its status as the favorite.

Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction

Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline -143

Chicago is the preferred side at -143. Atlanta has the better overall record and stronger season-long pitching staff, but the matchup-specific numbers favor the Cubs. Chicago is 44-32 at Wrigley Field compared with Atlanta's 37-36 road record, and the Cubs own substantial offensive advantages with 806 runs, 208 home runs, a .340 OBP and .431 slugging percentage. Most importantly, Chicago has the better starting-pitching numbers, with a 3.88 ERA and 1.12 WHIP compared with Atlanta's scheduled starter at 4.50 and 1.43. After Chicago won the completed opener 7-3, the Cubs have enough advantages to justify laying the moneyline rather than taking the plus price with Atlanta.

Pick: Over 8 -102

The Over 8 gets the call despite Chicago having the stronger scheduled starter. Atlanta's last four completed games have produced combined totals of 10, 13, 14 and 11 runs, while four of Chicago's last five completed games have reached at least seven runs and three have reached double digits. The Cubs also possess one of the stronger offensive statistical profiles in this matchup with 806 runs, 208 home runs and a .431 slugging percentage. Atlanta's 3.62 season ERA is excellent, but Wednesday's scheduled starter carries a 4.50 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. With Atlanta capable of contributing offensively and Chicago holding a favorable matchup at the plate, Over 8 provides the preferred total position with the possibility of a push if the teams combine for exactly eight runs.

Final Picks: Chicago Cubs Moneyline -143 and Over 8 -102

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