A pair of National League teams play the final game of a three-game series on the diamond in search of a win in the City of Brotherly Love when the Chicago Cubs travel to take on the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night and we break it down for you with our Cubs vs. Phillies prediction. In the opening game of the series, Philadelphia won 4-3 in 11 innings in walk-off fashion to draw first blood in the series. Which team picks up the victory in this contest on getaway day? This article was published before the conclusion of the middle game of this series at Citizens Bank Park Tuesday night. Read more about this Cubs vs. Phillies prediction! Winning isn’t easy so you need the top MLB cappers.
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Cubs Look to Leave Town on Positive Note
Chicago scrapped in the opener in a game where they were outhit badly but ended up falling in extra innings in walk-off fashion. Monday night. The Cubs entered Tuesday 40-26 on the year and held a four-game lead on the Cardinals for the top spot. Against Philadelphia, Chicago was held to five hits with no player having more than one. Kyle Tucker (his 13th) and Ian Happ (his fifth) each homered in the loss for the Cubs, who went one of eight with runners in scoring position. Matthew Boyd threw six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits with two walks and no strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Daniel Palencia (0-2) took the loss in relief as he threw one inning, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with one walk and no strikeouts.
Ben Brown gets the call as he makes his 14th appearance, 12th start, of the season for the Cubs in the finale. He is 3-4 with a 5.37 ERA, a 1.429 WHIP, 20 walks and 78 strikeouts over 63.2 innings of work this season. Brown took the loss in his last start, which came on the road against the Tigers Friday night. He threw seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in a 3-1 Cubs loss. In his last three appearances, two starts, Brown is 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA, a 1.096 WHIP, four walks and 20 strikeouts over 17.1 innings of work. Brown took the loss in his lone career start against the Phillies, which came at home April 26. He threw 3.2 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a 10-4 Cubs loss. Brown, in his 29th career major league appearance, 20th start, pitches at Citizens Bank Park for the first time here.
Philadelphia Looking to Slice Into NL East Deficit
Philadelphia snapped a four-game skid as they managed to take the opening game of this series in extra innings Monday night, The Phillies entered Tuesday night 38-28 and stood second in the NL East, four games behind the Mets for the top spot. Against Chicago Monday, Philadelphia racked up 16 hits with Otto Kemp (run) and Nick Castellanos (run) each picking up three to lead the way. The Phillies went five of 16 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base in the contest. Zack Wheeler threw six innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Carlos Hernandez (1-0) earned the win as he threw one inning, allowing one run (none earned) on one hit with no walks and one strikeout.
Jesus Luzardo is on the bump for the Phillies as he makes his 14th start of the season. He is 5-2 with a 4.46 ERA, a 1.445 WHIP, 24 walks and 83 strikeouts over 72.2 innings of work on the year. Luzardo took the loss in his last start, which came against the Blue Jays on the road Thursday. He threw 2.1 innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts in a 9-1 Philadelphia loss. In his last three starts, Luzardo is 0-2 with a 16.34 ERA, a 2.841 WHIP, six walks and 16 strikeouts over 12.2 innings of work. Luzardo makes his seventh career start against the Cubs here. He is 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA, a 0.946 WHIP, 14 walks and 40 strikeouts over 37 innings of work against them. Luzardo is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.375 WHIP, 13 walks and 49 strikeouts over 48 innings of work in eight career starts at Citizens Bank Park.
Best Bets for Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
This one will be interesting as the two starting pitchers in this contest have trended in opposite directions of late. Brown threw six scoreless frames, allowing one hit and fanning nine in a game the Cubs won over the Reds where he came in after an opener. He followed that up with his quality start against the Tigers, even though he took the loss, as he squared off with reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Meanwhile, Luzardo has been scorched in his last couple of starts, giving up 20 runs on 21 hits over his last 5.2 innings of work. His ERA more than doubled from 2.15 to 4.46 in that stretch. The Phillies are a good team but they’re in a bit of a slump. Until Luzardo rebounds, you have to fade him slightly. Look for the Cubs to prevail here on getaway day.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Chicago is second in the majors by averaging 5.55 runs per game while they allow an average of 3.97 runs per game, giving them an average of 9.52 runs per game. That number bumps slightly to 5.68 runs away from Wrigley Field, while they allow 3.92 runs, giving them an average total of 9.60 runs per game away from the Friendly Confines. The Cubs have seen the over post a 33-27-6 mark on the season entering Tuesday. Philadelphia has seen the under post a 36-29-1 mark in their first 65 games on the year. The Phillies are 10th in the majors with 4.56 runs per game and that number climbs to 4.81 runs per game at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia has an average total of 8.88 runs per game but that number climbs to 9.75 runs per game at home. Brown has been prone to getting lit up at times and Luzardo has had back-to-back miserable outings. Take the over here as a result.
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