Braves vs. Cubs prediction: Why Cubs are favored to win Wednesday's MLB matchup [9/16/2026]

The Chicago Cubs will square off with the Atlanta Braves in MLB action at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, beginning at 7:40 PM ET.

The Cubs will start Shota Imanaga (10-10, 3.88 ERA), while the Braves are going with JR Ritchie (1-2, 4.50 ERA).

Dimers' advanced MLB model projects the Cubs as the most likely winner in this Braves vs. Cubs prediction.

This article offers a closer look at Wednesday's matchup, including best bets and picks.

Braves vs. Cubs prediction and odds

Using innovative machine learning and statistical analysis, we have re-simulated the outcome of Wednesday's MLB matchup between the Braves and Cubs, forming part of our MLB predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently gives the Cubs a 59.3% chance of beating the Braves. According to our model, the Braves (+1.5) have a 59.6% chance of covering the run line, while the over/under total of 7.5 runs has a 55.6% chance of going over.

Latest betting odds

We have sourced the best MLB odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Run Line: Braves +1.5 (-150) / Cubs -1.5 (+145)
• Moneyline: Braves +150, Cubs -150
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (+102/-104)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Model picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

• Run line: Cubs -1.5 @ +145 via bet365
• Moneyline: Braves @ 40¢ via Novig
• Total: Over 7.5 @ 50¢ via Novig

According to our MLB best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 7.5 total runs.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.

Game info & first pitch details

Wednesday's MLB matchup between the Cubs and Braves at Wrigley Field is scheduled to commence at 7:40 PM ET.

• Who: Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs
• Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
• Time: 7:40 PM ET/4:40PM PT
• Venue: Wrigley Field

Conclusion

We predict the Cubs, with a 59.3% win probability, will likely beat the Braves in Wednesday's MLB matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.

This article's predictions and probabilities are generated by Dimers' proprietary MLB prediction model. Our editorial team reviews the resulting content for accuracy and presentation before publication.