PHILADELPHIA @ CHICAGO CUBS (CHC -130, 9.5)
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PHILLIES VS. CUBS 7/2/24
Although they have the best record in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies will face some difficulties in the coming weeks. The Phillies begin a three-game series against the host Chicago Cubs tonight, and they are still without three regular starters.
Despite the absence of designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto, and first baseman Bryce Harper, Philadelphia is 26 games above .500 and will try to keep up that pace. Realmuto had surgery on his right knee on June 12, and Harper (left hamstring strain) and Schwarber (left groin strain) were placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. Realmuto is indicating that he will return by the end of July, while Harper and Schwarber might be able to return before the All-Star break.
There was talk of the offense taking a hit without the trio. Then, on Sunday, Philadelphia was down four runs to the visiting Miami Marlins. They came storming back to win 7-6. The game-winning runs were scored in the seventh inning thanks to a two-run single by Trea Turner, his third hit of the game. Not to be outdone, Nick Castellanos went 4-for-5 with three RBIs.
The Cubs, meanwhile, are in last place in the National League Central after losing six of their last eight games. After losing 7-1 at home against Milwaukee on Sunday, Chicago is now 11.5 games behind the Brewers in first place. It’s a frustrating place to be for a Cubs team that has just three wins in its last ten games.
All the runs the Brewers would need came from an explosive seven-run fourth inning. The Cubs offense would finish with just two hits and manage just one run. Chicago had one at-bat in the game with runners in scoring position.
Chicago right-hander Hayden Wesneski (2-4, 3.60 ERA) will take the mound tonight. It will be his 22nd appearance and his fifth start of the year. In 45 innings, Wesneski has given up eight home runs. He gave up three runs on two hits in four innings against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. All three runs came on two homers that Wesneski allowed. He didn’t take the loss, but the Cubs went down 4-3. In his two career appearances against the Phillies (one start), Wesneski is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
Philadelphia's right-hander Michael Mercado (0-0, 0.00) is expected to get the start. On June 24, he relieved the Detroit Tigers in his major league debut, pitching a perfect inning. Prior to being called up, Mercado, 25, had made 14 appearances (10 starts) at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and was 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA.
FREE PICK: PHILLIES-CUBS UNDER 9.5
The Phillies will be without Harper, Realmuto, and Schwarber tonight. They’ll be feeling that tonight. Hayden Wesneski pitches for the Cubs. He’s been good enough…2-4, 3.60 ERA. He’s got four starts and hasn’t allowed more than 3 ER in any of them. All four starts have ended up going Under the total. Prospect Michael Mercado pitches for Philly. In Triple-A this year, Mercado has a 1.71 ERA in 47.1 innings. The Cubs have hit just .228 over the past 14 days and both teams are trending Under. The Under has cashed in 8 of the last 12 for Philly and 13 of the last 20 for Chicago.
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