Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves Betting Preview, Free Pick - April 3 (Listen)

The Cubs vs. Braves features a hot trend, that being the Cubs having gone 7-2 in the last nine games played in Atlanta.

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There is an even better trend that we want to apply to Wednesday night's game, that's the OVER 8.5, which was released earlier.

All the books had this total at 9.  It opened at 8.5.  Action was pretty balanced on the total now that it's at 9. 

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (0-1, 5.40)

Lester kicked off his season with a solid start on Opening Day Thursday, holding Texas to two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in six innings. It followed a spring training in which the 35-year-old gave up 18 earned runs on 23 hits over 15 1/3 innings across five starts. Lester, who shared the National League lead with 18 wins a season ago, did not face Atlanta in 2018 and is 6-2 with a 2.47 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves.

Teheran made his sixth consecutive Opening Day start for the Braves on Thursday in Philadelphia and took the loss, but pitched well in giving up three runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts across five innings. The 28-year-old, who was bumped out of Atlanta's playoff starting rotation last October, struck out 21 with only two walks in 17 innings during spring training to solidify a rotation spot. Teheran is 3-1 with a 3.44 ERA in eight lifetime starts against the Cubs, winning his only start against Chicago last season.

Cubs are 5-0 in Lester's last five starts vs. the Braves.

Braves are 7-1 in Teheran's last eight starts vs. the Cubs.

The UNDER is 12-4-1 in the last 17 meetings in Atlanta.

Six of these recent meetings went UNDER the current total of 8.5.

This one is generally trending 8.5 to 9, and with good reason, despite what you just read.

Both pitchers in their most recent starts for this series, there were double digit runs scored.

Lester had given up 18 earned runs on 23 hits over 15 1/3 innings across five starts.

Cubs failed to score Monday night yet they scored 12, 6 and 10 in their previous three games against the Rangers.  They have allowed 8 or more runs in their last three games.

Atlanta scored 4, 6, 1 and 8 runs their first four games of this season.

DO GO WITH THE OVER 8.5 - Still available some books.

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com