Chicago Cubs vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, 9/16/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Philadelphia Phillies

Date: Thursday, September 16, 2021

Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+175) Philadelphia (-233)

Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies (72-72, 2nd in NL East) host the Chicago Cubs (66-79, 4th in NL Central) at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday. The Cubs open this contest at +175 while the Phillies are coming in at -233. The O/U has been set at 8. The starting pitchers are Kyle Hendricks and Zack Wheeler.

As a team, the Chicago Cubs are recording 4.3 runs per contest, which ranks them 21st in the league. They have racked up 622 runs scored and hold an OBP of .305. The Cubs have tallied 196 two-baggers as a squad and have smacked 190 balls out of the stadium. They have earned 592 RBI's as well as 1,102 hits on the campaign, while their team batting average is .232. Chicago has a slugging rate of .404 and have struck out 1,428 times, while taking a walk on 430 occasions.

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Cubs pitchers have yielded 207 long balls and 731 runs in total (26th in baseball). Their pitching staff has walked 532 opposing players and their FIP sits at 4.80 as a squad on the season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.32 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.38. The Cubs have a team earned run average of 4.73 this year (24th in baseball), and they have rung up 1,233 hitters.

Cubs relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 151 times in addition to having 152 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have a total of 71 holds for the year (15th in baseball). The Cubs relief pitchers have earned a save percentage of 74.0% and has come into the game in 122 save situations. They have recorded 37 saves so far this season and have blown 13 of their 50 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 246 base runners on the campaign and 34.6% of those players crossed the plate. The Cubs have sent 535 relief pitchers to the hill so far this season.

The Cubs have converted 69.4% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 11,433 innings, which has them sitting at 21st in professional baseball. The Chicago Cubs have a tally of 3,811 putouts on the year, as well as 1,398 assists and 76 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .986 which has them sitting 11th in MLB, and have earned 932 double plays.

Hendricks (83-54 career mark) sits with a FIP of 3.72 and he has faced 4,952 opposing batters during his time in the majors. He has allowed 1,115 base hits (8.3 hits per nine innings) and has 266 free passes. His ERA is 3.31 (447 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.138. Hendricks has taken the hill for 1,214 frames and has earned 1,004 punch outs during his career.

The Philadelphia Phillies hold an on-base percentage of .318 as well as a batting average of .240 on the season. They have been rung up on 1,245 occasions (18th in baseball) and have notched a total of 1,144 base knocks. Philadelphia has accumulated 177 HRs on the season as well as 624 RBIs. The Phillies hold a team slugging % of .408 and they are recording 4.54 runs per game (13th in the league). They have 228 two-baggers, while walking 510 times as well as scoring 654 runs.

The Phillies have a team WHIP of 1.301 and have a FIP of 4.19 as a unit this year. They are currently ranked 16th in MLB as a staff in total hits conceded with 1,192. The Philadelphia pitching staff have surrendered 676 runs over the course of the season while having a team ERA of 4.47 (626 earned runs yielded). They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.94 (1,319 strikeouts against 449 walks). They have allowed 185 dingers and they relinquish 4.82 runs per 9 innings (19th in MLB).

Philadelphia has called on relievers to enter the contest in 62 save opportunities and they have come away with 32 saves. They are ranked 28th in the league holding a save rate of 51.6%, and they have dispatched 466 bullpen pitchers to the hill this year. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 147 times in high leverage situations and on 130 occasions with runners on. Philadelphia relievers have an inherited score percentage of 42.4% of 205 inherited base runners. With 130 save situations, the Phillies have compiled 62 holds in addition to 30 blown saves.

The Philadelphia Phillies have twisted 121 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .983 (22nd in baseball). The Phillies have accrued 1,276 assists, 87 errors and have 3,785 putouts on the season. Out of their 11,355 innings on the diamond, the Phillies have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 68.5% (26th in pro baseball).

During his career, Wheeler has given up 924 base hits while tallying 1,004 K's in 1,015 innings. He has given up a total of 399 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.233 and having a FIP of 3.5. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.06 and he has gone up against 4,249 batters so far in his MLB career. Wheeler (61-49 career win-loss mark) has a 3.54 earned run average while surrendering 8.2 hits per 9 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (+175)

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