**ONLY $25!** POWER-HOUR *SPECIAL* ~ OFF 4-1 THURSDAY!
(MLB) Atlanta vs. Chi Cubs, 04/16/2021 2:20 PM, Score: 5 - 2
Money Line: -140.00 Atlanta (Away)
Result: Win
8* Atlanta (2:20 ET): So this will be the second straight day I’m rolling with the Braves. Yesterday, they won in walk-off fashion, 7-6 over Miami. It was a much needed win as Atlanta had lost the first three games of that series, two of them in extra innings. They very nearly blew another one yesterday as a 5-4 lead turned into a 6-5 deficit in the top of the ninth. Thankfully, they were able to rally for two (runs) of their own in the bottom half of the inning with Dansby Swanson’s RBI single being the game-winner.

Now the Braves move onto Chicago where they’ll face a Cubs team that is also below .500 after losing four of five. The Cubs just dropped two of three in Milwaukee before an off-day on Thursday. They actually own the worst run differential (-20) in the National League right now, which is never a good distinction. Also not good are the numbers thus far from Friday starter Zach Davies, who has an 11.04 ERA and 2.044 WHIP. He was really roughed up his last time out, giving up seven runs in 1 ⅔ IP and that was against the lowly Pirates.

Atlanta will go with lefty Drew Smyly. Some would argue that ERA is an outdated, often misleading, way to measure a pitcher’s performance. Smyly’s two starts certainly make a case for that. While his ERA is 5.73, he has a 0.909 WHIP. In 11 IP, he’s allowed only nine hits, but he’s been charged with nine runs (two unearned). Three home runs haven’t helped, but Smyly has an 11-1 KW ratio. I think he’s pitched better than the ERA shows and he should do well against a Cubs lineup that is last in MLB with a 2.7 runs per game average. The Cubs are hitting a collective .163 and have eight games with five or less hits. They have the highest strikeout rate in the NL (29.4%) as well. 8* Atlanta