Chicago Cubs @ Atlanta Braves Player Props, Picks and Predictions - 9/8/2025 7:15 PM EDT

We have your Chicago Cubs @ Atlanta Braves prop betting and game preview needs covered as the Chicago Cubs hit the road to face the Atlanta Braves.

Chicago Cubs @ Atlanta Braves Pick

Best Moneyline Odds: Chicago Cubs -115 at Caesars
Best Spread Odds: Chicago Cubs -1.0 at DraftKings (+103)
Best Total Odds: Over 8.5 at ESPN BET (-120)

Game Info

Date: 2025-09-08
Time: 7:15 PM EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: -

Chicago Cubs @ Atlanta Braves Preview

The Chicago Cubs (81-62 overall, 37-34 on the road) are set to visit the Atlanta Braves (64-79 overall, 34-35 at home) in what promises to be a compelling matchup. Both teams are coming off recent losing streaks, with the Cubs dropping two straight and the Braves also on a two-game skid, having been outscored 28-4 in their last two games against Seattle.

The pitching matchup features Shota Imanaga (9-6, 3.15 ERA, 0.94 WHIP) for the Cubs against Bryce Elder (6-9, 5.54 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) for the Braves. Imanaga has been a strong presence for Chicago, with his team holding a 9-11-0 record against the spread in his starts this season. The Cubs' pitching staff collectively boasts a 3.89 ERA, ranking fifth in the National League.

Offensively, the Cubs have shown more potency recently, averaging 5.1 runs per game over their last 10 days, compared to the Braves' 3.2 runs per game in the same span. Key players for the Cubs include Nico Hoerner, who leads the team with a .291 batting average, and Kyle Tucker, who has been hot with 15 hits, three home runs, and 10 RBIs over his last 10 games. For the Braves, Matt Olson leads with 22 home runs, and Ozzie Albies has been productive with 14 hits, two doubles, a triple, two home runs, and five RBIs in his last 10 games.

On the injury front, the Braves are dealing with several long-term absences, including Austin Riley (abdominal), Reynaldo López (shoulder), and Joe Jiménez (knee), all on the 60-Day IL. The Cubs have Kyle Tucker (calf) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (knee) listed as day-to-day, which could impact their lineup.

Historic Head-to-Head Stats and Analysis

The Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves have a recent history of competitive games. Just last week, the Cubs took two out of three games against the Braves in Chicago. Looking at the pitching matchup, Cubs starter Shota Imanaga has a 1-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts against the Braves. In his last outing against Atlanta on September 2, 2025, Imanaga picked up the win, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits over 6.0 innings in a 4-3 Cubs victory.

Braves starter Bryce Elder has faced the Cubs three times in his career, holding a 1-1 record with a 6.00 ERA over 15 innings. Interestingly, in his most recent start against the Cubs on September 3, 2025, Elder pitched 7.0 scoreless innings, securing a 5-1 win for the Braves.

Recent head-to-head results between these two teams include:

September 3, 2025: Atlanta Braves 5, Chicago Cubs 1
September 2, 2025: Chicago Cubs 4, Atlanta Braves 3
September 1, 2025: Chicago Cubs 7, Atlanta Braves 6
May 23, 2024: Atlanta Braves 3, Chicago Cubs 0
May 22, 2024: Atlanta Braves 9, Chicago Cubs 2
May 21, 2024: Chicago Cubs 4, Atlanta Braves 3
May 15, 2024: Chicago Cubs 7, Atlanta Braves 1
May 14, 2024: Atlanta Braves 7, Chicago Cubs 0
May 13, 2024: Atlanta Braves 2, Chicago Cubs 0
September 28, 2023: Atlanta Braves 5, Chicago Cubs 3

Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline

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The Chicago Cubs moneyline at -115 via Caesars stands out as the best straight pick for this game. The Cubs enter this contest with a superior overall record (81-62) compared to the Braves (64-79), and their recent offensive performance has been more consistent, averaging 5.1 runs per game over the last 10 days. Furthermore, the pitching matchup heavily favors Chicago with Shota Imanaga on the mound. Imanaga boasts a solid 3.15 ERA and has a strong track record against the Braves this season, including a recent win where he pitched effectively.

Conversely, Braves starter Bryce Elder carries a higher 5.54 ERA, and while he did have a strong outing against the Cubs recently, his overall season performance and career numbers against Chicago are less convincing. Betting models also lean towards the Cubs, with one model predicting a Cubs win in 59% of simulations, and sharp money showing a 52.32% win percentage for Chicago. Given the Cubs' better form, the favorable pitching matchup, and the analytical backing, the Cubs moneyline offers good value.

Top Player Prop Picks

Ian Happ - Over 0.5 Hits

Ian Happ has been consistently getting on base, making the over 0.5 hits prop an attractive pick. He has hit the over on this line in 80% of his last 5 games and an impressive 90% of his last 10 games. Over the entire season, Happ has hit the over in 63.85% of his games, averaging 0.9 hits per game. More notably, in his matchups against the Atlanta Braves in 2025, he has hit the over on this prop in 100% of his appearances, averaging 1.67 hits. The best odds for this prop are -182 at BetRivers.

Nacho Alvarez Jr. - Over 0.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs

Nacho Alvarez Jr. has demonstrated strong recent performance in combining hits, runs, and RBIs. He has hit the over on the 0.5 line for this prop in 80% of his last 5, 10, and 20 games, indicating consistent production. For the season, he has hit the over in 72.5% of his games, averaging 1.43 Hits + Runs + RBIs. Against the Chicago Cubs in 2025, he has hit the over in 66.67% of his games, averaging 1.67 Hits + Runs + RBIs. The best odds for this prop are -150 at Caesars.

Shota Imanaga - Over 17.5 Pitcher Outs

Shota Imanaga has shown a strong ability to go deep into games recently, making the over 17.5 pitcher outs prop a compelling choice. He has hit the over on this line in 100% of his last 5 games and 80% of his last 10 games, averaging 20.2 and 18.6 outs respectively. For the season, he averages 17.57 outs, hitting the over in 52.38% of his starts. In his single appearance against the Atlanta Braves in 2025, he hit the over on this prop, recording 18.0 outs. The best odds for this prop are -120 at DraftKings.