Sunday, May 29, 2016

Wrigley Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Vincent Velasquez vs. John Lackey

The Philadelphia Phillies visit Wrigley Field on Sunday to play the Chicago Cubs. The probable starters are Vincent Velasquez for the Phillies and John Lackey for the Cubs. The opening line for this matchup has Philadelphia at +192 and Chicago at -207. The over/under was set at 8. The Phillies have a 20-27-2 over/under record and a 25-24-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 51% of the time. The Cubs are 29-18-0 against the run line and have a 26-19-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 62% of the time.

The Phillies head into this matchup with a 26-23 record, including 13-14 on the road. Starting pitcher Vincent Velasquez has a 5-1 record with an earned run average of 2.75 and a WHIP of 1.15. He has 61 strikeouts over his 52.1 innings pitched and he has given up 43 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.28. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.66 and they have given up 133 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .231 against the bullpen while being struck out 153 times and walking 63 times this season. As a team, Philadelphia has allowed 8.13 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.85 batters per nine. They are 10th in the league in team earned run average at 3.78. The Phillies pitchers have collectively given up 384 base hits and 177 earned runs. They have allowed 56 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Philadelphia as a pitching staff has walked 135 batters and struck out 419. They walk 2.9 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.9 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.22 and their FIP as a unit is 3.83.

As a team, Philadelphia is batting .238, good for 21st in the league while putting together a .245 average away from home. The Phillies hold a .363 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .293 which is good for 27th in baseball. They rank 26th in baseball with 7.75 hits per game. Odubel Herrera comes into this game hitting .329 and his on-base percentage is at .439. He has 56 hits this season along with 28 runs scored and 17 runs batted in. He's struck out 37 times and has walked 33 times. Maikel Franco is hitting .263 and he has an on-base percentage of .307. He has totaled 46 hits so far while scoring 13 runs and he's driven in 28. He has walked 12 times and has struck out 34 times. The Phillies have 372 hits, including 65 doubles and 36 home runs. They've stolen 19 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 17 times. Philadelphia has walked 118 times this season and they've struck out 382 times as a unit. They've left 293 men on base and have a team OPS of .657. They score 3.27 runs per contest and have scored a total of 157 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 16-6 home record and a 33-14 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.38, John Lackey has a 4-2 record and a 0.95 WHIP. He has 61 strikeouts over the 61.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 45 hits. He has allowed 6.6 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.15. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.02 and they have given up 91 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .197 against the Cubs bullpen while being struck out 138 times and walking 58 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.59 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.86 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.68. The Cubs pitchers as a team have surrendered 306 base knocks and 125 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 35 home runs this year and they give up 0.8 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 142 hitters and struck out 410. They give up a walk 3.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.9 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.08 while their FIP as a staff is 3.33.

As a team, they are batting .259, good for 11th in the league while putting together a .247 average at home. The Cubs hold a .429 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .359 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.89 hits per contest. Ben Zobrist comes into this matchup batting .350 and he has an OBP of .454. He has 56 hits this year along with 35 runs scored and 31 RBI. He's struck out 19 times and has walked on 32 occasions. Kris Bryant is hitting .280 and he has an OBP of .370. He has collected 51 hits so far while he's scored 34 runs and drove in 36. He has earned a walk 22 times and has punched out 40 times. The Cubs as a unit have 409 base hits, including 84 doubles and 55 homers. They have 24 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 11 times. Chicago as a team has walked 223 times this year and they have struck out 369 times. They've had 365 men left on base and have an OPS of .788. They score 5.7 runs per game and have totaled 262 runs so far this season.

Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends

The Philadelphia Phillies are 20-27-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Philadelphia Phillies are 25-24-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 26-19-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 29-18-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Philadelphia Phillies

05/01/16 P Dalier Hinojosa Hand 15-day DL (4/29)
04/24/16 P Charlie Morton Hamstring 15-day DL (4/24); out for season
04/14/16 P Daniel Stumpf Suspension 80-game suspension
04/03/16 P Mario Hollands Elbow 60-day DL (4/2)
03/31/16 LF Aaron Altherr Wrist 60-day DL (4/2)
03/31/16 LF Cody Asche Ribs 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Matt Harrison Back 60-day DL (4/2)

Chicago Cubs

05/18/16 P Joe Nathan Elbow 60-day DL (5/17)
04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee 60-day DL (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 60-day DL (2/25)

Guy's Pick: Take the Phillies

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