Philadelphia Phillies (83-70) vs. Chicago Cubs (68-86)
September 29, 2022 2:20 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Cubs +160 / Philadelphia Phillies -222; Over/Under: -
(Get latest betting odds)
The Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs meet Thursday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. This will be the finale in a three-game set. The Cubs eked out a low-scoring win in the opener, then on Wednesday Chicago managed another victory by a two-run margin. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Philadelphia was out-hit 7-5 in the Tuesday opener of this set, eventually falling 2-1. In the Wednesday game two, the Phillies gave up four runs in the fifth inning in a 4-2 loss. Aaron Nola lasted 6.0 innings in the start with four earned on five hits alongside eight strikeouts.
Starter for Philly on Thursday will be Ranger Suarez. In his 27 starts so far Suarez is 10-5 with a 3.38 ERA. In 146.1 innings total he has 55 earned on 135 hits and 55 walks with 122 Ks.
Over on the Cubs’ side, they posted the go-ahead run in the seventh on Tuesday and held on for the win. On Wednesday Chicago was out-hit 11-6 but still powered out the victory. Starter Hayden Wesneski managed 5.0 innings with one earned on six hits and two walks.
Starter for the finale on the Cubs’ side will be Javier Assad. Over seven games (six starts) in 2022 Assad is 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA. In 27.1 innings he has 13 earned on 26 hits and 17 walks with 23 Ks.
The Phillies are 10-3 in the last 13 Thursday games and 1-5 in their last six in game three of a series. The over is 6-1 in Philly’s last seven in game three of a series.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are 5-13 in their last 18 Thursday games and 3-8 in the last 11 in game three of a series. The under is 4-1 in Chicago’s last five Thursday games.
PICK: I’m going to take a stab on the Phillies. Suarez had an up-and-down outing against Washington this month (but still won) with 6.2 innings, four earned and seven hits. Since then Suarez has done well with just one earned over his last 12.0 frames in two starts. As for Assad, he’s been shaky himself with seven earned in his last 6.0 innings over two appearances. I like Assad to put up a reasonable outing here but it’s probably Suarez’s advantage.
