Two of the MLB’s top teams do battle tonight in a featured matchup in Atlanta. The Braves are 28-13 atop the entire sport, but they’ll face some tough competition in a 27-14 Chicago Cubs group that brings the second-best record in the National League into tonight’s proceedings. Beyond the win-loss columns, both of these squads are among the highest scoring in baseball, so expect plenty of fireworks as they kick off this series.

Here’s a betting prediction and pick for Tuesday’s Cubs vs. Braves matchup courtesy of MLB odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Cubs vs. Braves prediction, preview

Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies were on a real heater prior to their last two games, rattling off 10 consecutive wins with a ridiculous 21-6 record over the last month since April 12. Perhaps that wasn’t entirely sustainable, but this looks a lot like the version of this team that was promised over the last two seasons. They’re scoring 5.24 runs per game, third most of any team while ranking fourth in OPS at .764. A slash line of .252/.347/.417 shots just how effective they are across the board, particularly while leading the MLB in OBP as well as BB/K ratio (0.58) and sitting second in BB% (11.8%). Chicago also has plenty of power with a .165 ISO and 51 home runs, with the latter mark tied for sixth most. The Cubs’ pitching staff also has quality stats as a team, garnering a 3.81 ERA and 1.20 WHIP that both rank inside the top 10. While just 13th in K-BB% at 13.7%, they’re getting the job done well even despite a clear weakness — a 1.23 HR/9 comes in at 26th.

RHP Colin Rea draws the start for the Cubs today with a 4-1 record through eight appearances. He holds a 4.03 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in those starts, striking out 35 hitters in 38.0 IP. He grades out in the 85th percentile in ground ball rate, but is also susceptible to hard-hit balls with a fourth-percentile grade in average exit velocity.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves still maintain the best record in baseball, but they’re just 6-4 over their last 10 games. They have won back-to-back outings now, so perhaps they can recapture some of that elite form that they showed in recent weeks. The offense certainly hasn’t slowed down and still leads the MLB with 5.56 runs per game behind top marks in OPS (.784) and AVG (.270). Their full slash line of .270/.334/.450 is quite impressive, and a .310 BABIP is also second best in the sport. A .170 ISO sits second as well, as do their 57 home runs. If Atlanta has any weakness, it’s an 0.40 BB/K ratio and a BB% of just 8.2%, but those numbers clearly haven’t held the team back. The Braves’ arms are among the sport’s best, barely holding onto the top ERA of any team at 3.14 with the third-best WHIP at 1.16. The staff sits 11th in K-BB% at 14.5% and remains first in LOB% at 78.0% as well.

The Braves bring out RHP Grant Holmes, who’s 2-1 in his seven starts. A 4.34 ERA and 1.31 WHIP may not jump off the page, and he has just 29 strikeouts in 37.1 IP. However, his chase and whiff rates are both above average, so perhaps the 18.1% K% will rebound some in the coming weeks.

Cubs vs. Braves pick, best bet

DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Braves as -122 Moneyline favorites at home tonight. The Cubs come in at +102 odds to win outright. The run total also sits at 8.5 combined runs between these sides.

Best Bet: Braves ML (-122)

The Braves are only 9-9 at home and this isn’t a flashy pick by any means, but I do think I prefer taking them to win straight up tonight. While Rea is a standout ground-ball pitcher, his numbers in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate are something that leads me to believe it could be a big night for Atlanta on the scoreboard. This is one of the most formidable offenses in baseball in terms of run creation and pop at the plate, and the Braves’ home splits in all three slash-line categories are each top six in the sport. I don’t love that the Cubs’ splits are worse on the road than at Wrigley either, so that’s another area that makes me think the Bravos will take this one tonight. It could go either way, but the fact that Chicago is batting just .222 this month is just the nail in the coffin here.