Introduction
Wednesday night at Wrigley Field brings us a fascinating National League matchup as the Chicago Cubs host the Atlanta Braves on September 3rd, 2025. Don’t miss the first pitch at 11:40 PM (UTC)! Fans are excited to see how these two teams, each following a different path this season, will perform when the lights come on.
The Cubs, sitting firmly in the NL playoff picture, have been dominant at home, while the Braves are looking to spoil the party despite battling inconsistency. Oddsmakers have opened with Chicago. This game features an exciting pitching duel between Cade Horton (Cubs, 9-4, 2.94 ERA) and Bryce Elder (Braves, 5-9, 5.88 ERA). With the Cubs’ offense firing and the Braves dealing with injuries, bettors and fans alike are in for a thrilling contest.
Starting Pitchers Breakdown
Cade Horton – Chicago Cubs (9-4, 2.94 ERA)
The Cubs’ young right-hander has been a revelation this season. With an ERA under 3.00, Horton ranks among the top 15 starters in MLB. His biggest strength lies in limiting line drives and maintaining poise against the heart of lineups:
Opponents slugging just .293 the first time through the order.
Has a 15% line drive rate compared to non-fastballs, ranking among the lowest in MLB.
Uses excellent breaking pitches to keep hitters guessing.
Horton thrives in big games at Wrigley Field, where his ERA is even better than on the road. If he continues his sharp command, the Cubs should control the tempo early.
Bryce Elder – Atlanta Braves (5-9, 5.88 ERA)
Elder’s season has been an up-and-down journey. His ERA sits above 5.80, but his last two starts have shown flashes of improvement:
Opponents hitting just .130 over his last two starts.
Generates 57% ground balls when locating down in the zone.
Heavy reliance on keeping pitches low, especially against right-handers.
Still, his inconsistency and tendency to allow home runs (especially late in games) make him a risky arm against Chicago’s powerful lineup.
Team Form and Betting Trends
Chicago Cubs
62-77 ATS this season.
80-59 on the match
4.9 runs per game—6thin MLB.
Strong home record: 31 wins in last 46 at Wrigley.
Cubs’ pitchers rank 11th in ERA (3.86).
Key Betting Trends:
39-5 when collecting 10+ hits.
33-8 when scoring in the 1st inning.
Covered F5 in 39 of last 66 home games.
The Cubs’ ability to score early and give their pitchers a lead has been vital.
Atlanta Braves
62-77 ATS (same as Cubs).
63-68 on Overs, 68-63 on Under.
Offense ranks middle of the pack with 4.4 runs per game.
An ERA of 4.39 places them 22nd in MLB.
Key Betting Trends:
15-3 ATS in their last 18 road games.
7-25 as slight in match
Just 5-35 when allowing 2+ home runs.
The Braves are scrappy but inconsistent, especially when behind late in games.
Player Prop Bets to Watch
Braves Prop Bets
Ozzie Albies: HR Over cashed 3 of last 8 games.
Ronald Acuña Jr.: Singles Under in 18 of last 25 away games.
Michael Harris II: Hits + Runs + RBIs Over in 18 of the last 25 away games.
Cubs Prop Bets
Seiya Suzuki: Hits under in 14 of last 20 at home.
Pete Crow-Armstrong: RBIs Under in 20 of Last 25.
Dansby Swanson: HR Over in 2 of last 6 games.
These props highlight how streaky both lineups are. Albies and Harris are the Braves’ best prop values, while Swanson provides sneaky power upside for Chicago.
Cubs Key Players to Watch
Kyle Tucker: Batting . 270 with 21 HRs and 70 RBIs.
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 28 HRs, 83 RBIs—breakout slugger.
Nico Hoerner: Team’s batting average leader at .290.
Seiya Suzuki: 89 RBIs with 27 HRs.
Chicago’s depth has carried them all season. Even if one bat slumps, others step up.
Braves Key Players to Watch
Matt Olson: .269 average, 21 HRs, 77 RBIs.
Ozzie Albies: 13 HRs, 49 walks, solid middle infield bat.
Marcell Ozuna: 20 HRs but batting just .227.
Michael Harris II: 17 HRs, versatile speed, and pop.
The Braves need Olson and Albies to spark the offense against Horton, or they risk falling behind early.
Injuries
Cubs
Miguel Amaya: 10-Day IL (ankle)
Ryan Brasier: 15-Day IL (groin)
Mike Soroka: 15-Day IL (shoulder)
Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (groin)
Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Braves
Austin Riley: 10-Day IL (abdominal)
Aaron Bummer: 15-Day IL (shoulder)
Grant Holmes: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Joe Jimenez: 60-Day IL (knee)
AJ Smith-Shawver: 60-Day IL (calf/elbow)
Reynaldo López: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
Spencer Schwellenbach: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Both teams are dealing with injuries, but Atlanta’s list of missing pitchers has been particularly damaging.
Keys to the Game
Braves Must:
Keep Horton under pressure early.
Prevent multi-run innings by limiting Cubs’ power hitters.
Rely on bullpen depth late if Elder struggles.
Cubs Must:
Take advantage of Elder’s fly-ball tendencies.
Score early runs to let Horton settle in.
Maintain patience at the plate and exploit Atlanta’s shaky relief pitching.
Cubs vs. Braves Expert Analysis
This game is set up as a contrast in stability. The Cubs have the better starting pitcher, stronger home record, and more consistent bats, while the Braves’ reliance on streaky hitters makes them unpredictable.
If Cade Horton delivers six strong innings, the Cubs’ bullpen can close things out. Elder, meanwhile, must keep the ball down to avoid giving up the long ball, but Chicago’s lineup has been excellent at punishing mistakes.
The over/under of 8 runs is intriguing. Both teams have trends that point toward the Under, but given Elder’s volatility and the Cubs’ power potential, the Over 8 is worth consideration.
Final Prediction – Cubs vs Braves, Sept 3rd, 2025
Score Prediction: Cubs 5, Braves 3
Total Prediction: Over 8 runs
Win Probability: Cubs 57%, Braves 43%
Most probably, Chicago will lean on Horton’s power at home, while Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki’s timely knocks will fortify the win. This is a tough setting for Atlanta, as they are the road underdogs.
Best Bets Today
Cubs: Safe pick with Horton at home.
Over 8 Runs: Elder’s ERA suggests Chicago will score plenty.
Player Prop: Michael Harris II Over Hits/Runs/RBIs – consistent away production.
Parlay Recommendation: Cubs + Over 8 Runs (+200 odds range).
Conclusion
The Cubs vs. Braves matchup on September 3, 2025, at Wrigley Field has all the ingredients for a great baseball showdown, and the Cubs should win with Cade Horton and that ridiculous home record, but take the underdog Braves, pinned with those sluggers.
For bettors, the best value lies with the Cubs and exploring props on hitters like Michael Harris II and Dansby Swanson.
Final Pick: Cubs 5 – Braves 3 (Cubs ML, over 8)
