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Phillies vs Cubs Predictions, Picks & Probable Pitchers to Target (July 3)
by Ethan Stone in MLB Baseball
Updated Jul 3, 2024 · 8:12 AM PDT
Jul 2, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas (18) is caught stealing second base by Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY SportsThe Chicago Cubs host the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night looking to even the series after falling 6-4 in Game 1. The game is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.The Phillies are the top team in Major League Baseball by record. The Cubs have lost 3 straight series and look to avoid No. 4 tonight in Chicago.See the odds, starting pitchers and a prediction for Wednesday’s game below.
The Chicago Cubs are heading in the wrong direction nearing the halfway point in the 2024 season. The Philadelphia Phillies are the exact opposite, possessing the league’s top record as well as one of the best offenses and pitching staffs in the sport. The Phillies have outscored opponents by 23 runs across the past 10 games.
The Cubs (39-47, 22-19 Home) and Phillies (56-29, 23-15 Away) face off for Game 2 in a 3-games series Wednesday night at 8:05 from Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Cubs vs. Phillies Prediction (July 3)
The Phillies were without Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber Tuesday and still lead 6-1 at one point, making it more of a blowout than the score would tell you. The Phillies once again will be without Harper and Schwarber tonight.
The Cubs do have Shota Imanaga on the mound tonight, which should make things even more interesting given the above injuries. Imanaga has yet to face any Phillies so far in his career and he’ll have the home crowd on his side.
The Cubs have won Game 2 of a 3-game series 6 straight times dating back to late May and in every single one of those instances they had lost Game 1. The Cubs seem to be falling into a terrible, terrible pattern here, but the odds seem in their favor Wednesday night. Let’s work on winning Game 3s now, Chicago…
CHI vs. PHI pick: Cubs ML (-110)
Chicago vs. Philadelphia Odds
| Team | Runline | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Phillies | -1.5 (+150) | -110 | O 7.5 (-110) |
| Chicago Cubs | +1.5 (-180) | -110 | U 7.5 (-110) |
Odds above via Fanatics Sportsbook. Check out our Fanatics Promo Code for more information on a fantastic welcome offer!
The Phillies are considered favorites for tonight’s Game 2 in Chicago, but just slightly. The money is a dead straight between Philadelphia and Chicago on Fanatics, though the Phillies led the way earlier just slightly Wednesday morning.
The Cubs, naturally, are heavy favorites to win or keep the game within a run at -180, with the Phillies sitting at +150 to win by 2 or more runs.
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The Over/Under for this matchup has been set at 7.5 per Fanatics, with neither side favored at -110.
Zack Wheeler vs Shota Imanaga
WheelerVSImanaga
| 9-4 | Record | 7-2 |
| 2.73 | ERA | 3.07 |
| 2.98 | xERA | 3.48 |
| 0.98 | WHIP | 1.11 |
| 105.2 | IP | 85.0 |
Tonight’s matchup pits 2 of the better pitchers in Major League Baseball against the other in Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler and Chicago’s Shota Imanaga.
Let’s start with Imanaga, who has taken the Major League by storm this season. He’s earned a 7-2 record and has thrown 80 strikeouts through 85 innings pitched. However, his production has begun to slow in recent weeks after a red-hot start in April, winning his first 5 before finally dropping a game in a 4.1 inning outing against Milwaukee at the end of May. Imanaga is 2-2 since the last week of May.
His recent starts have been up and down. He allowed 11 hits and 10 earned runs against the Mets on June 21 but turned it around with a decent performance against San Francisco in his last outing, finishing with 5 hits allowed and 3 earned runs across 6 innings of work.
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Wheeler needs little introduction. The Phillies RHP is 2nd in MLB in quality starts with 13 and sits top 20 in K/9 at 9.5. He also boasts the 12th best ERA in the sport at 2.73.
The top of Chicago’s order has actually faired really well against Wheeler, though. Cody Bellinger is hitting .385 (13 at-bats), Ian Happ sits at .429 (7 at-bats) and Christopher Morel at .500 with a home run (4 at-bats).
Only Dansby Swanson has struggled heavily against Wheeler, skewing his average against the Cubs in the process. Swanson has faced Wheeler 39 times and bats a dismal .154.
