The end of the regular baseball season draws nigh, so it is the turn of the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies in this winner-takes-all clash on the 23rd of September 2024 at Citizens Bank Park. While some Cubs sit pretty at 80 76, the Phils ’92-64 record is strong and whoever wins this matchup would have an advantage come the playoffs. One of the most popular top MLB free picks today, this game features two battling forces, but most interesting is the starting pitchers who should make the difference.
Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies 9/23/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Monday, September 23, 2024, at 6:40 PM ET |
| Where: | Citizens Bank Park |
| Watch: | MARQ, NBCSP, MLB.TV |
| Cubs odds: | +104 |
| Phillies odds: | -122 |
| Total Line: | 7.5 |
Chicago Cubs (80-76) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (92-64)
The Chicago Cubs’ narrative has been a rather successful story through the thick and thin of the season, aside from their low season batting average of .243. Recent shifts in their performance have julienned their overall performance. I trust the Cubs have enjoyed some good times, including two narrow victories over the Toronto Blue Jays that demonstrate their capability in tight contests. There were also victories over Washington with scores of 5-0 and 3-1 and a hard-fought victory of 7-6. Most recently, however, they have been in Washington and Oakland’s losses, along with a 1-0 loss to Toronto, suggest that they still have issues with making their form stable.
| Chicago Cubs Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 22, 2024 | WSH | 5-0 | W |
| Sep 21, 2024 | WSH | 1-5 | L |
| Sep 20, 2024 | WSH | 3-1 | W |
| Sep 19, 2024 | WSH | 7-6 | W |
| Sep 18, 2024 | OAK | 3-5 | L |
The Phillies faced some obstacles in recent games and particularly had trouble with the Mets and closing out games. This trend continued in their series with the Houston Astros, where they were able to win two games by the scores of 3-2 and 5-0 but then lost the final game 10-0, where they were totally outplayed. They nevertheless managed to win one of these high-scoring games 12-2, but in the preceding series against the Mets and Brewers, they lost narrow games, which exposed a vulnerability that the Cubs could take advantage of.
| Philadelphia Phillies Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 22, 2024 | NYM | 1-2 | L |
| Sep 21, 2024 | NYM | 3-6 | L |
| Sep 20, 2024 | NYM | 12-2 | W |
| Sep 19, 2024 | NYM | 6-10 | L |
| Sep 18, 2024 | MIL | 1-2 | L |
Justin Steele (5-5, 3.03 ERA) vs. Aaron Nola (12-8, 3.54 ERA)
For the Cubs, Justin Steele has been a steady presence in the rotation this season as he posted an ERA of 3.03 with 132 strikeouts in 130.2 innings pitched. He has excelled in performing well under pressure circumstances and limiting damage, such as the 11 total home runs he has allowed all year for the Cubs. The Phillies’ hitter power, alongside their ability to strike out, can make Steele’s gameplay important for the team, as he has shown accuracy in pitching and a tendency to bag outs.
For the Phillies, Aaron Nola’s season may also be credited to good performance. With a 12-8 win-loss streak and 3.54 ERA, Nola, as expected, has been the reliable pitcher whom the Philadelphia Phillies depend on when the championship is on the line. The high number of strikeouts he averaged (183 out of 188.1 innings) showed that he was efficient at the mound; still, a 29-home run count is too many and would be worrisome for a Cubs team that has patience and will seek to use every chance they get.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Philadelphia Phillies -122, Total Odds: 7.5
Betting lines still slightly favor the Phillies as they have performed better overall compared to the other team and have a home-ground advantage. The total runs have been pegged at 7.5 as it is expected to be a close game, whose virtue will be the starting pitching on the show and possibly low scores.
Chicago Cubs Betting Trends
The Cubs have proven throughout the season that they are capable of pulling off surprises, particularly whilst on the image, because they have gone OVER the totals in 6 out of their last 7 outings. However, the current poor form against the Phillies (1-7 SU in the last 8 meetings) could be a psychological hurdle.
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends
Although they have recently done well at home with a 7-1 SU in their last 8 contests at home, the Phillies have not enjoyed much success in keeping the wave, this can be seen in the recent defeats. How quickly they are able to recover in this series may hinge on how well Nola performs, as well as their offensive unit coming to the fore.
Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies 9/23/24 Betting Picks
It shapes up to be a good old-fashioned pitcher’s duel and one with some repercussions for the playoffs as well. With the present-day form and head-to-head record, the Phillies should have the slightest of advantages, especially since they are playing at home. All this explains why betting on the Cubs makes for a volatile and high-risk, but high-reward wagering proposition.
For people worried about best bet types, considering an UNDER on the total should be a good opinion, given the capabilities of both starters. More appropriately, for this season’s K totals, this may also provide some good value looking at both pitchers. These impressions are exemplified in some of the best premium picks for tacticians today, recommending constituents on how to place favorable bets in this clash.