Chicago Cubs v Philadelphia Phillies Pick
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A bottom dweller and a division leader will go head to head on Saturday on Citizens Bank Park when the Chicago Cubs head to Philadelphia for the third of a four-game series against the Phillies.
Date/Time: Saturday, June 4, 4:10 P.M. ET
Venue: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: FOX
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies Betting Lines
Money Line: Cubs +165, Phillies -190
Spread: Phillies -1.5
Over/Under: 7.5
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As the Chicago Cubs continue to try and turn their season around, the Phillies are no push over, and it took an error for the Cubs to squeeze out a win in the first game of this series, so don’t expect too much from them for the last two games.
The Cubs go into Saturday’s matchup just two games ahead of Houston for last place in the NL Central, while the Phillies are riding on top of the NL East just two games behind Atlanta.
The Cubs are a very efficient team offensively coming in third in batting average for the year and twelve with a .323 on-base percentage. Alfonso Soriano is by far the Cubs’ player most likely to go yard, but shortstop Starlin Castro is their best hitter overall, batting .303 with an on-base percentage of .327.
Philadelphia’s batting, statistically speaking, is a bit of a downer compared to recent years, as the team is ranked 17th overall in runs and 20th in batting average.
Ron Howard has continued his splendid career having already hit 12 home runs and 48 RBIs. The first baseman is on a bit of a cold streak though, only hitting two home runs in the teams’ last ten games, with one coming against the lowly Los Angeles Dodgers.
Center fielder Shane Victorino isn’t having the greatest month of June so far, only batting .174, but don’t count on it lasting very long. His season averages are on par with his career averages, so expect him to rebound for the rest of the month as crunch time nears.
The pitching matchup will be Matt Garza (2-5) for the Cubs, and Cliff Lee (5-5) for the Phillies.
Garza has been rather pedestrian all year with an ERA of 4.07. His last start was quite ugly having only played four innings for an ERA of 9.00.
Lee’s last game is a completely different story. In his last start on June 6 against the Dodgers, Lee played seven innings allowing no runs with 10 strikeouts. Lee has once again shown why he is considered one of the best starting pitchers in the game today.
The Cubs will have a tough time holding up with their third pitcher on the mound, and Philadelphia’s second best opposing him. With one of the best offensively, regardless of statistics, the Phillies have a chance to put a hurt on this team with Lee on the mound once again.
The odds makers have the Philadelphia Phillies as a -1.5 point favorite with an run total of 7.5.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Philadelphia – Philadelphia will have the advantage in the pitching matchup bar none, while their batters will have an easy time again Garza. The home crowd will be rocking for their first-place team.
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Chicago Cubs Betting Trends:
- Chi Cubs are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chi Cubs’s last 9 games
- Chi Cubs are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games on the road
- Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends:
- Philadelphia is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
- Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
- Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs
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