The September 8, 2025 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park pits two franchises in very different places, yet it remains an important contest for both. The Cubs arrive with an 81–62 record, solidly in playoff contention and looking to secure their position in the NL Wild Card or perhaps even push for a divisional crown depending on late-season results. They send Shōta Imanaga to the mound, the steady veteran who has been a linchpin for their rotation all year with his command, poise, and ability to mix pitches to neutralize both right- and left-handed hitters. Imanaga’s style relies on precision and sequencing rather than overpowering velocity, but that skillset travels well, even to hitter-friendly environments like Truist Park, and Chicago will count on him to give them quality innings. The Braves, on the other hand, come into this contest at 62–75, a season that has been defined more by inconsistency, injuries, and transitional development than contention, but they still represent a dangerous opponent capable of playing spoiler. They turn to Joey Wentz for a spot start, a young arm with potential but also vulnerability, as his track record shows flashes of command offset by issues with walks and hard contact when he falls behind in counts. Atlanta’s goal with Wentz will be to get him through the Cubs’ dangerous top of the order twice before handing the game to the bullpen, which has been overworked but remains serviceable in stretches. Offensively, the Cubs have thrived with a balanced approach, led by veterans like Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson while also integrating contributions from Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Carson Kelly, giving them both pop and depth throughout the lineup.

Their formula against Wentz will be to grind at-bats, extend innings, and force him into high pitch counts that expose Atlanta’s bullpen early. The Braves counter with a lineup anchored by Matt Olson, still capable of game-changing power, but the supporting cast has struggled to find consistency, leaving Atlanta prone to prolonged scoring droughts. They will need to maximize every opportunity against Imanaga, likely focusing on attacking fastballs early in counts before he can deploy his offspeed arsenal to induce weak contact. Defensively, Chicago holds a clear edge, as their infield has excelled at turning double plays and their outfield has been sharp in limiting extra bases, while Atlanta’s defensive miscues have too often extended innings and led to crooked numbers. The bullpens also tilt toward Chicago, as their late-inning relief options have generally been more reliable than Atlanta’s, though neither unit has been flawless. From a betting perspective, the Cubs’ near-even run line record of 35–34 suggests they often play competitive, tight games but find ways to cover in critical spots, while Atlanta’s 73–83 ATS mark reflects their inability to stay close consistently, even at home. The total is set around nine runs, which indicates expectations for moderate scoring, but given the disparity in pitching quality, Chicago seems more likely to control the pace of the game if Imanaga delivers as expected. Ultimately, this matchup comes down to whether the Cubs can impose their formula of disciplined at-bats, quality pitching, and steady defense against a Braves team that has struggled to execute consistently; if they do, they should walk away with another important September win, while Atlanta will need either a breakout from Wentz or a power surge from their lineup to flip the script.