The Chicago Cubs (40-26) visit the Philadelphia Phillies (38-28) Tuesday for the second game of a 3-game set at Citizens Bank Park. The contest is slated for a 6:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Cubs vs. Phillies odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Phillies lead 3-1
Chicago dropped Monday’s series opener 4-3 in 11 innings. The loss marked the Cubs third in their last 4 games, and they are now just 1-5 across their last half-dozen games in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia trailed 3-2 when it came to bat in the home half of Monday’s 11th frame. The Phillies scored twice to earn the victory and snap a 5-game skid.
Cubs at Phillies projected starters
RHP Colin Rea vs. RHP Mick Abel
Rea (4-2, 3.59 ERA) is making his 10th start. He has logged a 1.35 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 6.7 K/9 through 57 2/3 IP across 9 starts and 4 relief appearances.
- Last outing: Win, 5 1/3 IP in relief, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 0 K in 7-1 win at Washington Nationals Thursday
- Career vs. Phillies: 1-2, 2.45 ERA (33 IP, 9 ER), 29 H, 8 BB, 28 K in 7 games (5 starts)
Abel (1-0, 0.79 ERA) is making his third career start. He has a 0.71 WHIP, 0.0 BB/9 and 8.7 K/9 through 11 1/3 IP.
- Last outing: No-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K in 2-1 loss at Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday
- The 23-year-old rookie has never faced the Cubs
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Cubs at Phillies odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:41 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cubs -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Phillies -110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+150) | Phillies +1.5 (-185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Cubs at Phillies picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 6, Phillies 5
Abel is a youngster just a year removed from posting a troubled 6.46 ERA across 24 Triple-A starts in 2024. He has yielded much in the way of hard contact through his first couple of MLB games.
Rea allowed 4 HRs and 12 runs across his last 10 2/3 IP in May, but he bounced back with a solid relief outing at Washington Thursday.
At 4.56 runs per game and 4.32 RPG allowed, the Phillies are fortunate to own a .576 winning percentage. The Cubs are catching the Phils at an opportune time: Philadelphia has managed just a .599 OPS over its last 11 games. Chicago sports a better defense and a more consistent offense.
TAKE THE CUBS (-110).
No interest. PASS.
The Over is 6-2-2 in the last 8 games of this series and is 4-1-2 across the last 7 series games in Philadelphia.
The starting pitching in this one has warts. Chicago’s bullpen is way out too far over its skis with an unsupportable 3.38 ERA. And both bullpens figure to be limited in the back ends after Monday’s extra-inning contest.
BACK THE OVER 9.5 (-110).
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