Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs 7/2/2024

Philadelphia Phillies (54-28) vs. Chicago Cubs (38-45)

On Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at Wrigley Field, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs will face each other for their much anticipated matchup on TBS broadcast and much anticipated by top sportsbooks. While Philadelphia have enjoyed an exceptional season thus far with a 54-28 record and placed among MLB top teams; Chicago Cubs however have struggled for consistency recording a 38-45 record and could provide valuable insight into potential postseason prospects of both sides in this matchup.

The Phillies have demonstrated strong offensive and defensive capabilities this season. Boasting an average batting average of.260, an on-base percentage of.326, and slugging percentage of.409 respectively, their attack has put tremendous strain on opposing pitchers while 297 hits and 37 homers signal their ability to convert at bats into runs for runs scored, which has contributed greatly to their success. Their pitching stats do show some weaknesses however with an ERA of 4.75 and WHIP 1.45 rating suggesting an uneven distribution in their bullpen which shows some inconsistency within.

In spite of their less impressive win/loss record, the Cubs have proven remarkable strengths in specific areas. Their 3.01 team ERA with 1.18 WHIP ranks amongst the league leaders and indicates an exceptional pitching staff which often keeps games alive for them. They boast higher on-base percentage (.331) compared to Phillies while their slugging percentage falls short by just one percent (.394) while also managing to limit opponent batting averages to just.217 to further demonstrate defensive strengths that may make an important impactful statement ahead of this upcoming contest.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs Game Info

When:	Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 8:05 PM ET
Where:	Wrigley Field
TV:	TBS
Stream:	MLB.TV

Michael Mercado (0-0, 0 ERA) vs. Hayden Wesneski (2-4, 3.6 ERA)

Michael Mercado remains an unknown for the Philadelphia Phillies despite limited Major League exposure, leaving scouts and analysts scrambling to understand his impact in regular season action. While his lack of runs allowed during one inning might suggest effective pitching against an offense like Cubs’ lineup might suggest otherwise; his impact is undetermined at best in full starts against tough lineups like that of Cubs; so his role here could either prove advantageous or disadvantageous depending on which direction his unpredictability takes them in this particular game against their bullpen’s overtaxation; unpredictability could either provide strategic edge or create potential vulnerabilities within their lineup;

Hayden Wesneski stands out in that his innings and tangible statistics give us a more clear idea of his capabilities. With an overall record of 2 -4 and an ERA/WHIP ratio of 3.6 over 45 innings pitched, Wesneski has showcased effective control while managing to escape jams efficiently. His 44 strikeouts indicate an excellent strikeout rate and could present Phillies batters with challenges should they underestimate his talent. Even though Wesneski has experienced an inconsistent track record this season, his performance metrics suggest he often receives inadequate run support from his team; something which may not entirely fall under his control. For the Cubs to capitalize on Wesneski’s start successfully, their offense must provide more consistent support – something they have struggled to do thus far.

MLB Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD

As betting lines remain undecided, bettors will need to closely follow updates from sportsbooks in order to make an educated bet. While the Phillies might come out as favorites based on their outstanding record, strong Cubs pitching may alter odds in their favor due to Wesneski being at the helm.

Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends

The Phillies have displayed an even performance against the spread, particularly away games with 19-18 records overall and in their last 5 games they are 3-2 to indicate relative form stability. Yet with 2 of those 5 games having total runs go over, and considering their relatively high team ERA, bettors may favor betting against this matchup by taking odds of over for total runs in this contest.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Cubs have struggled against the spread lately, going 1-4 over their last 5 games against it. This trend may reflect their difficulty closing out games even with strong pitching performance; moreover, two out of their last five totals went over, possibly reflecting Philadelphia’s high scoring potential and pushing totals higher.