Braves vs. Cubs Friday MLB probable pitchers, odds: All-Star pitcher Max Fried returns for World Series-favored Atlanta as rich get richer

As it is, the Atlanta Braves have the best run differential (tied) and record in the majors and are the +330 favorites at DraftKings to win their second World Series in three years. They are loaded, and the rich are about to get richer Friday in a matinee series opener at the Cubs as 2022 All-Star lefty Max Fried returns from a long stint on the injury list. The Braves are -180 favorites. Click here for model picks. 

The 29-year-old was the runner-up to Miami's Sandy Alcantara for the 2022 NL Cy Young Award as Fried was 14-7 with a 2.48 ERA, 1.01 WHIP (career low) and 170 strikeouts in 185.1 innings (career high). He opened among the Cy favorites for this year at +1000 and was stellar through four starts at 2-0 with a 0.45 ERA. However, Fried was hit hard on May 5 against the Orioles, and he landed on the injured list shortly after with a strained left forearm – which can lead to Tommy John surgery.

Fried has made four rehab assignments in the minors on his way back. His most recent was last Saturday with Triple-A Gwinnett and Fried throwing 79 pitches in 4.1 innings. It is not thought the he will any sort of restrictions today, but the bullpen is well-rested as the Braves were off Thursday. The eventual return of Fried and Kyle Wright, who led the majors with 21 wins in 2022, is why Atlanta didn't feel a need to add starting pitching ahead of the Trade Deadline and mostly focused on the bullpen.

"It's been a long time coming. These guys have been playing so well. I'm just seamlessly trying to fit in and just kind of ride the momentum they have created," Fried said.

Incidentally, Fried's first big-league start (but not appearance) was at Wrigley on Sept. 3, 2017, and he got the win, allowing one run over five innings. Fried is 4-0 with a 1.57 ERA in four career starts vs. the Cubbies. For Friday, he's set at Over/Under 4.5 strikeouts, 4.5 hits allowed and 1.5 earned runs.

Meanwhile, Ronald Acuna Jr. became a member of the 25-homer, 50-steal club in Wednesday's win over the LA Angels when he hit his 25th homer – he has 64 steals. It's the 12th 25/50 season in MLB history and Acuna did it in 106 games, faster than anyone. Acuna is now -1000 at DraftKings to win NL MVP but a -300 underdog for a mega-rare 40/40 season. Yes is +235.

Teammate Matt Olson would be the NL MVP favorite most years considering he leads the Senior Circuit in homers with 37 and in RBIs with 91. He is three behind MLB home run leader Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. Olson has hit 19 of his homers since June 15, tied with Ohtani for the most since then (Shohei hit one last night to tie Olson in that stretch). To win the MLB HR crown, Ohtani is -200 and Olson +150. No one else realistically has a shot.

The Cubs start Kyle Hendricks (4-5, 3.49) today. Acuna is 2-for-10 with a homer off him and Olson  2-for-5 with two doubles. A lot of Braves have good splits off Hendricks, who is an ugly 1-4 with a 6.81 ERA vs. Atlanta in 35.2 career innings. Hendricks is +290 to personally win today. 

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