Series Preview: Phillies return to action, welcome the Chicago Cubs to CBP for a 3-game set

The Philadelphia Phillies will begin the second half of the 2022 MLB season tonight at Citizens Bank Park against the Chicago Cubs in a game that will stream exclusively on Apple TV+.
The Phillies enter the second half of the MLB season with a 49-43 record. They are 27-14 under interim manager Rob Thomson and currently are clinging onto the final NL Wild Card spot with one of the easiest schedules remaining in all of baseball. Worth noting, the Phillies closed out the first half of the season with a sweep down in Miami against the Fish, something they haven’t done since 2010.
The Chicago Cubs are not a very good baseball team, sitting in fourth place in the NL Central at 35-56. They are 17-25 on the road and before the All-Star break lost nine of 10 games. Whenever the Pittsburgh Pirates are above you in the standings, you know your season is essentially over.Â
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Series Pitching Matchups
- Friday (7:05 EST): Kyle Gibson vs Justin Steele
- Saturday (6:05 EST): Zack Wheeler vs Marcus Stroman
- Sunday (12:05 EST): Undecided vs Drew Smyly
Kyle Gibson vs Justin Steele
Kyle Gibson will make his 10th home start of the season tonight, where he holds a 4-1 record with a 4.01 ERA and 43 Ks. Gibson is 5-3 total on the year, with a 4.35 ERA and 80 strikeouts, and a 1.20 WHIP.
Gibson will face off against Justin Steele, who is 3-6 on the year with a 4.15 ERA and has struggled on the road (5.86).
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Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
Cubs | +1.5 (-176) | +118 | O 9 (-118) |
Phillies | -1.5 (+146) | -138 | U 9 (-104) |
Prediction
It will be important to take care of business while at home against a horrible Chicago Cubs team. The Phillies should, and will come out tonight and beat this team, setting the tone for the month ahead.
- Series Prediction: Phillies SWEEP Cubs
- Tonight’s Prediction: Phillies Win
- Series MVP: Nick Castellanos
More Phillies
- Phillies pitching prospect receives weekly honor
- Bryce Harper expected to return quicker than expected
- Every Phillies pick from Day 2 of the MLB Draft
- Phillies listed as potential landing spot for one veteran starter