Chicago Cubs vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, 5/19/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Philadelphia Phillies

Date: Friday, May 19, 2023

Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+115) Philadelphia (-135)

The Chicago Cubs (19-24) are traveling to Citizens Bank Park on Friday where they will try to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies (20-23). The line on this matchup has the Cubs at +115 while the Phillies open at -135. The betting total is set at 8.5. The starting pitchers are Marcus Stroman and Ranger Suarez.

Chicago has a slugging percentage of .431 and have been called out on strikes 386 times, while drawing a walk on 159 occasions. They have recorded 199 RBI's as well as 395 hits so far this season, while their average at the plate is at .266. The Cubs have earned 72 doubles as a squad and have smacked 54 baseballs out of the park. They have racked up 206 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .340. As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are knocking in 4.8 runs per game, which puts them at 10th in the league.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.88 and their pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.23. Cubs pitchers have given up 42 home runs and 184 total runs (14th in MLB). Chicago has surrendered 342 base hits (8.1 per 9 innings) as well as 175 earned runs. The Cubs hold a team earned run average of 4.13 this year (15th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 363 batters. They have walked 126 opposing hitters and their FIP is 3.95 as a unit for the year.

The Cubs bullpen have a save rate of 50.0% and stepped onto the hill in 31 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 43 base runners so far this year and 23.3% of those runners ended up scoring. Cubs relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 30 times in addition to having 33 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 139 relief pitchers to the mound so far this year. The bullpen have racked up 20 holds on the year (20th in the league). They have compiled 5 saves for the season and have blown 5 out of their 10 chances to save the game.

The Cubs have turned 70.0% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 3,429 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 10th in the majors. The Chicago Cubs are sitting with 1,143 putouts this year, in addition to 398 assists and 18 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .988 which has them sitting 8th in MLB, and they have twisted 41 double plays.

Stroman has taken the mound for 1,217 innings and has 1,019 K's in his career. His earned run average is 3.60 (487 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.249. He has conceded 1,177 base hits (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has had 343 free passes. Stroman (69-71 career mark) has a FIP of 3.63 while he has gone up against 5,051 hitters in the majors.

The Philadelphia Phillies have compiled a team OBP of .322 in addition to a team batting average of .261 so far this year. They have been rung up on 392 occasions (10th in the league) and have recorded 386 hits. Philadelphia has knocked in 45 HRs for the year as well as 175 runs batted in. The Phillies hold a team SLG% of .421 and they are earning 4.26 runs per contest (22nd in the league). They have recorded 83 doubles, while taking a walk 124 times and putting up 183 runs.

The Phillies hold a team WHIP of 1.321 and have a FIP of 3.81 as a squad this season. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 9.40 (391 strikeouts vs 134 free passes). They come in at 16th in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 359. They have yielded 40 homers and they surrender 5.11 runs per 9 innings (24th in the league). The Philadelphia pitching staff have conceded 212 runs on the year and come in with a team ERA of 4.63 (192 earned runs conceded).

Philadelphia has had bullpen pitchers take the mound in 15 save chances and they have tallied 11 saves. They are currently ranked 3rd in MLB with a save rate of 73.3%, and they have sent 147 bullpen pitchers onto the field for the season. Their relievers have come in 37 times in high leverage situations and also on 36 occasions with runners on base. Philadelphia relievers have an inherited score percentage of 45.9% out of their 61 inherited runners. Sitting with 39 save situations, the Phillies have compiled 24 holds in addition to 4 blown saves.

The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten 20 double plays and have a fielding rate of .986 (16th in baseball). The Phillies have racked up 346 assists, 21 errors and have a total of 1,120 putouts on the season. Out of their 3,360 innings played, the Phillies are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 67.5% (23rd in baseball).

Suarez (25-15 career mark) has a 3.16 ERA while giving up 8.4 hits per nine innings. His K/BB ratio is 2.58 and he has gone up against 1,400 opposing hitters thus far in his career. He has allowed 117 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.279 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.6. During his pro baseball career, Suarez has allowed 312 base hits while he has totaled 294 K's in 333 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Philadelphia (-135) and under 8.5 runs

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