On the evening of May 22, 2024, the Atlanta Braves are set to challenge the Chicago Cubs at the iconic Wrigley Field, with first pitch slated for 7:40 PM amidst scattered clouds. This promises to be an intriguing matchup, with Braves’ ace Max Fried (ERA 3.805) going head-to-head against Cubs’ pitcher Justin Steele, who has an ERA of 5.211 this season.

As we delve into the standings, the Braves, currently third in the NL East, boast a record of 27-18, reflecting a solid .600 winning percentage. They’ve been particularly strong within their division, holding a 10-5 record. The team’s recent form over the last 10 games includes four wins, although they come into this game following a loss. Their home and away splits show they are stronger at home (16-8) compared to their travels (11-10), with their day and night game performances standing at 10 wins and 17 wins, respectively.

Contrastingly, the Cubs find themselves fifth in the NL Central with a 27-22 record, marking a .550 winning percentage. Equal at home and away, with a 15-9 home record juxtaposed against a 12-13 road record, the Cubs have been fairly consistent. They come into this match on the back of a win, aiming to build on their balanced performance of 13 day wins and 14 night wins.

Regarding the betting odds for this matchup, the point spread is set at 1.5, with an over/under of 9.0 runs. The money line sees the Braves favored on the road at -138, while the Cubs are considered underdogs at home with odds of +117. These odds suggest a close game, likely hinging on the performance of the starting pitchers and recent team form. Bettors looking to capitalize on this game should consider these figures closely in their analysis.