Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves Picks and Prediction - September 8, 2025
Jumping on National League action, we turn our attention south, so slide into our Cubs vs. Braves predictions for Monday night. Chicago (81-61, 2nd in N.L. Central) opens the three-game set with RHP Colin Rea (10-6, 4.30 ERA) as their starter. Atlanta (64-78, 4th in N.L. East) will push RHP Spencer Strider (5-12, 4.97 ERA) to the hill to get the festivities rolling. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 EST from Truist Park and remember, when it comes to MLB picks, our MLB Predictions can’t be beat.
(This was published prior to the conclusion of Sunday’s games.)
Cubs cautiously even keeled
The Cubs have been tripped up a bit over the past couple of weeks, going 5-5 over their last ten games prior to Sunday. They remain 6.5 games back in the Central but are comfortably atop the Wild Card race by five games. Over the last half month, Chicago’s pitchers had a 4.96 ERA but walks only 27 batters over 12 games. This season, Cubs’ pitching had a 3.87 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and teams were hitting .244 against them. Starting pitching had a 57-38 record with 3.86 ERA while their relievers had 24 wins, 37 saves and a 3.90 ERA over 505.1 innings. They were 12th in the National League with 1,089 strikeouts and their 366 walks were fewest in the league.
Cubs’ offense comes and goes for the club, noted by the 11 runs scored in their series opener against Washington, followed by their one-run effort the next day. The team hit just .229 over the past month and this season, they’ve hit .249 as a club while scoring 700 runs over 142 games. Pete Crow-Armstong, who had hit just .176 over his last ten games, is day-to-day with after fouling a ball off his knee on Saturday. After collecting a single in Saturday’s loss, Nico Hoerner had hit safely in 11 of his last 14 games. The Cubs’ second baseman is fifth in the National League with a .290 batting average.
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Starter spotlight
- Colin Rea is making his 29th start of the season with the team owning a 19-9 mark when he shoves.
- The right-hander lasted just four innings in his last outing after allowing three runs, five hits and three walks.
- Over his last seven starts, the Cubs’ starter allowed just one home run.
- Opponents are hitting .268 against him with 43 walks.
- Rea has faced Atlanta six times in his career and his 2-0 with a 3.97 ERA
Braves spoiling themselves
Having seemingly been out of it for a long time now, it was expected that the Braves could be a perfect spoiler for those still trying to obtain postseason glory. That hasn’t been the case as the club went 3-6 over their last nine games and only Washington’s ineptitude has kept them out of the basement. Their offense scored 58 runs over their last 14 games, but hit just .237. Through 142 games, the club scored 625 runs and was hitting .244. Ozzie Albies hit safely in his first five games of September. The second baseman is hitting just .244 on the year but over his last 18 games, he hit .370. Matt Olson struck out 158 times, fifth most in the American League.
Mired by injuries, Atlanta’s pitching has been a mess for much of the season. In their last 30 days, the staff ERA was 5.18 over a 28-game span. This year, the number is 4.43 in 142 games, to go along with a 1.31 WHIP and .246 opponents’ batting average. They’ve struck out 1,223 batters, fourth most in the National League, and they’ve walked 475, fifth most. Their starters have a 37-52 record with a 4.48 ERA while the bullpen stepped in to provide 28 saves, 27 wins and a 4.22 ERA in 497 innings of work.
Starter spotlight
- This will be the 20th time that Spencer Strider will hit the hill this season and the Braves are just 5-14 in his starts.
- Over his last five games, he’s gone 0-4 with a 9.13 ERA.
- The right-hander went five innings in his most recent outing and did not factor into the decision after allowing three runs, five hits and three walks against the Cubs.
- Opponents are hitting .259 against the Braves’ pitcher with 18 home runs and 41 walks.
- This will be just the second time in his career that Strider will face the Cubs.
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Cubs vs. Braves Pick
Spread Pick for Cubs vs. Braves
- Chicago ML (4 units)
These teams are about as familiar as two can get, given they faced each other in the series prior to the one they just played over the weekend. This is also the same starting pitching matchup from the series opener between them last Monday, a game the Cubs won, 7-6. Both starters allowed three walks in that game, and neither was hooked with a decision, though they both pitched well enough to lose. Neither of these guys has pitched with much consistency this season either but Rea has been able to hold his opponents to three earned runs or less in seven of his last eight road starts. Teams are hitting .286 against Strider at Truist Field. Where he has a 4.81 ERA this season. If it comes down to the bullpens, the Cubs are in a far better position thank Atlanta on that front. They also have the better offense, though neither side has been hitting the ball well over the past two weeks. The Cubs are 4-3 in their last seven games against the Braves.
Take Chicago.
Over/Under Pick for Cubs vs. Braves
- Over (5 units)
In the first series between these two they averaged a combined 8.7 runs per game but the under went 2-1. The under is 8-2 in the last ten games between these teams, but one of those two overs featured this very pitching matchup exactly one week ago. There isn’t a whole lot that has changed in seven days to think things will be different. Neither starter will have figured it out overnight, especially this deep into the season. Strider has given up at least three runs in four of his last five starts and had a 9.13 ERA in that stretch. Rea has given up a combined nine earned runs over his last two starts and has served up 14 walks in his past five efforts. On the offensive side, Chicago’s offense has tallied at least four runs in six of their last eight games. Atlanta has put up four or more in three of their last five.
Take the over.
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