There’s nothing like a good early-season matchup between playoff contenders. It’s even better when you get a matinee rubber match. The Chicago Cubs, NL Central leaders, play such a game tomorrow against the wild-card Philadelphia Phillies.
Chicago has been bashing teams up and down this season, with a top-three offense all year. It’s getting breakout performances and solid contributions from young call-ups, and the acquisition of Kyle Tucker was a cherry on top. The pitching staff has held its own in the absence of Justin Steele, and the Cubs look poised to make noise in October.
The Phillies have been confusingly outstanding this season despite a rough recent stretch. They boast one of the best starting rotations in baseball, led by Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez. Navigating Aaron Nola’s brutal season is impressive by itself. The offense finds a way, getting a resurgent season from Trea Turner while Kyle Schwarber continues to send balls into orbit. Elite pitching, good defense and timely hitting is a formula that can take you far.
The Phillies enter at -126 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The run total is set at nine. Let’s take a look at the best bets for Wednesday’s game.
Cubs vs. Phillies Pick and Prediction
Over 9 Total Runs (+101)
It hasn’t been the best season for these starting pitchers. Ben Brown is pitching to a 5.37 ERA for the Cubs, with bad luck on his side. The same can be said for Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo, who has an ERA nearly a full run worse than his expected ERA. Their luck is due to turn, but these offenses pose serious problems for any starter.
These two clubs combine for over 10 runs per game. I don’t expect either starter to stand in the way. And with these two squads looking relatively even on paper, I’m throwing Cubs +104 in the mix. They can smash any pitching staff to bits on a given night, and the Phillies are still slumping.
