The Philadelphia Phillies (83-71) and Chicago Cubs (69-86) end their 3-game series at Wrigley Field Thursday. First pitch is at 2:20 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Phillies vs. Cubs odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Cubs lead 5-0
The Phillies are starting to sweat. They sit just 1/2 game over the Milwaukee Brewers for the final NL wild-card spot. Philadelphia has lost 4 games in a row and will try to avoid being swept by a Chicago Cubs team that is already eliminated from postseason contention.
The Phillies left 12 men on base Wednesday and LF Kyle Schwarber scored their only 2 runs in the 4-2 defeat.
Cubs CF Christopher Morel went 1 for 3, but his lone hit was a 3-run shot in the 5th inning to give Chicago the lead, bringing his SLG to .444.
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Phillies at Cubs projected starters
LHP Ranger Suarez vs. RHP Javier Assad
Suarez (10-5, 3.38 ERA) makes his 28th start. He has a 1.29 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 in 146 1/3 IP.
- Is 6-1 with a 2.67 ERA on the road vs. 4-4 and a 4.27 ERA at home
- Last start: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER in a 1-0 win vs. the Atlanta Braves last Thursday
Assad (1-2, 4.28 ERA) makes his 8th appearance (7th start). He has a 1.57 WHIP, 5.6 BB/9 and 7.6 K/9 in 27 1/3 IP.
- Is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA at home vs. 1-0 and a 2.81 ERA on the road
- 4.10 ERA with .233 opponent batting average as a starter
Phillies at Cubs odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:23 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Phillies -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Cubs +160 (bet $100 to win $160)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Phillies -1.5 (-112) | Cubs +1.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -122 | U: -102)
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Phillies at Cubs picks and predictions
Prediction
Phillies 3, Cubs 2
Money line
The line here is too juicy. The books expect the Phillies to avoid the sweep and so do I, but you can’t wager it at that price. PHILLIES 1ST 5 INNINGS (-130) looks like a good bet considering the pitching matchup.
Run line/Against the spread
The Phillies are one of the worst teams ATS after a loss, covering just 27-of-69 attempts (39%).
The Cubs are the opposite, they are the 3rd best in MLB coming off a win. They have covered 39-of-68 (57%) games in that scenario.
They probably won’t win but I’d take the Cubs to cover. BET CUBS +1.5 (-108).
Over/Under
This pitching matchup, trend-wise, points towards the Under.
The Under is 5-1-1 in the Phillies’ last 7 road games against a right-handed starter, and the Cubs have gone under in 5 of their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter at Wrigley Field.
LEAN UNDER 7.5 (-102).
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