The Atlanta Braves are on the verge of securing the top seed in the National League playoffs, while the Chicago Cubs are fighting to maintain their position in the NL wild-card race as they meet for the middle game of a three-game series in Atlanta on Wednesday night. Rookie right-hander Darius Vines will take the mound for the Braves, opposed by veteran Jameson Taillon for the Chicago Cubs. So, how should we approach this game with our free baseball betting pick?

MLB Betting Odds

When the betting lines opened on Wednesday's game, the Atlanta Braves, with Vines as their starter, were favored at around -155 against the Chicago Cubs, who had Taillon on the mound. The over/under was set at 10.5 runs. Early betting action subsequently moved the Braves to -160.

Cubs-Braves Betting Preview

In an exciting turn of events, the Atlanta Braves overcame a six-run deficit to win the series opener on Tuesday, defeating the Chicago Cubs 7-6. The Braves spotted the Cubs a significant lead early in the game, then mounted a remarkable comeback, scoring three runs in the sixth inning, two in the seventh, and two more in the eighth - one of which was the result of a costly Cubs error - ultimately securing the victory. The Braves emerged victorious as -140 favorites in the series opener, and the game played over the set total of 9.5 runs. With Tuesday's win, the Braves have now won four of their last five games. Holding an impressive 101-56 record overall, Atlanta leads the Los Angeles Dodgers by four games in the battle for the best record in the National League, with only five games left in the regular season. In contrast, the Cubs had their three-game winning streak snapped with Tuesday's loss. With an overall record of 82-75, Chicago currently occupies the No. 3 spot in the NL wild-card standings, holding just a half-game lead over the fourth-place Miami Marlins.

Wednesday's Pitching Match-Up

Darius Vines will make his second career MLB start on Wednesday, having made three appearances out of the bullpen prior to this start. In his most recent outing last Friday, he allowed three runs on three hits and three walks over 3 1/3 innings of relief against the Washington Nationals. Over his three appearances leading up to that, Vines conceded four runs and eight hits over 11 innings, recording two walks and eight strikeouts. This game marks Vines' first career appearance against the Chicago Cubs. Jameson Taillon, on the other hand, is 2-for-3 in quality starts over his last three outings. In his most recent start last Friday, he delivered six shutout innings against the Colorado Rockies, allowing four hits and four walks in a 6-0 victory for the Chicago Cubs. Across his last three starts, Taillon has given up three earned runs and 12 hits over 17 innings. The Cubs have recorded an 11-17 record in games started by Taillon this season, but since the All-Star break, they have performed more impressively, tallying an 8-5 record. This game will be Taillon's first start against the Atlanta Braves since 2021 when he was with the New York Yankees.

Splits With the Sticks

This season, the Chicago Cubs have displayed a .253 batting average when facing right-handed pitching, complemented by a .334 team on-base percentage and a .414 team slugging percentage. In contrast, the Atlanta Braves have produced a .271/.341/.494 slash line against right-handed pitching, with all three numbers ranking first in the league in this split.

The Bullpens

The Atlanta Braves' bullpen has maintained a 3.81 ERA this season, accompanied by a 1.25 WHIP and a 3.00 K/BB ratio. However, it's worth noting that closer Ryan Pressly struggled in their recent game, resulting in a blown save on Monday night. On the other hand, the Chicago Cubs' bullpen possesses a 3.96 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 2.33 K/BB ratio.

MLB Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs have exhibited a 37-39 record on the road this season and have managed a 54-53 record against right-handed starters. Atlanta Braves have posted a 49-27 record at home and a 78-47 record against right-handed starters.

Totals Report

In terms of totals this season, 77 out of 152 games involving the Chicago Cubs have favored the over, with 75 games leaning toward the under. For the Atlanta Braves, 88 of their 154 games have leaned toward the over, while 66 games have favored the under. At Truist Park this season, 45 games have concluded below the projected total, with 30 games surpassing it.