Philadelphia Phillies vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/23/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Philadelphia Phillies vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Philadelphia (+150) Chicago (-182)

Wrigley Field is where the Chicago Cubs (14-9) will take on the Philadelphia Phillies (8-15) on Thursday. The moneyline on this contest has Philadelphia at +150 and Chicago is sitting at -182. The total has been set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers will be Cristopher Sanchez and Edward Cabrera.

The Phillies have compiled 33 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 24 baseballs out of the stadium. Philadelphia has a slugging rate of .360 and have been called out on strikes 187 times, while taking a walk on 74 occasions. As a squad, the Philadelphia Phillies are notching 3.5 runs per outing, which has them at 27th in baseball. They have amassed 79 runs batted in in addition to 168 hits over the course of the season, and their average at the plate sits at .218. They have racked up 80 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .298.

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The Phillies have compiled a team ERA of 4.99 this year (28th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 225 hitters. Phillies pitchers have allowed 23 home runs in addition to 125 runs in total (27th in MLB). They have walked 74 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 3.62 as a unit on the campaign. Philadelphia has surrendered 226 hits (10.0 per 9 innings) in addition to 113 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 3.04 and their pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.47.

The Phillies have sent 85 relievers to the hill so far this season. The relievers have inherited 31 runners on the season and 38.7% of those runners ended up scoring. The relief pitchers have recorded 10 holds for the season (25th in the league). Phillies relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 21 times in addition to having 16 appearances in high leverage situations. They have earned 5 saves this season and have not converted 1 of their 6 save opportunities. The Phillies bullpen have compiled a save rate of 83.3% and have entered the game in 16 save situations.

The Philadelphia Phillies are sitting with 612 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 206 assists and 15 errors. Their fielding rate is holding steady at .982 which has them sitting 26th in professional baseball, and they have turned 14 double plays. The Phillies have converted 63.2% of balls hit into play into outs in their 1,836 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 30th in baseball.

Sanchez has thrown 563 innings and has earned 548 punch outs during his MLB career. His earned run average is 3.16 (198 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.177. He has given up 527 hits (8.4 hits per 9 innings) and has 136 free passes. Sanchez (32-23 career record) has earned a FIP of 3.12 and he has faced 2,316 batters during his time in the majors.

The Chicago Cubs have earned an on-base percentage of .350 in addition to a batting average of .255 over the course of the season. They have been called out on strikes on 193 occasions (18th in the league) and have earned a total of 199 hits. Chicago has accounted for 27 home runs on the campaign as well as 110 RBIs. The Cubs have a slugging percentage of .404 and they are scoring 5.39 runs per game (5th in baseball). They have hit 33 doubles, while walking 110 times and scoring 124 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 87 runs this year while having an ERA of 3.45 (79 earned runs yielded). They have conceded 26 long balls and they concede 3.80 runs per 9 innings (6th in the league). The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.146 with a FIP of 4.12 as a squad so far this year. Their K/BB ratio sits at 8.10 (185 strikeouts vs 69 walks). They rank 3rd in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 167.

Sitting with 10 save situations, the Cubs have tallied 3 holds and 3 blown saves. Chicago has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 7 save chances and they have converted 4 saves. Chicago relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 23.3% out of their 30 inherited base runners. Their bullpen pitchers have taken the field 17 times in high leverage situations and on 23 occasions with runners on. They rank 20th in MLB holding a save rate of 57.1%, and they have dispatched 69 relievers to the hill this season.

In their 1,854 innings on the field, the Cubs have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 73.0% (3rd in MLB). The Chicago Cubs have turned 19 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .986 (15th in professional baseball). The Cubs have 210 assists, 12 errors and have accumulated 618 putouts during this campaign.

Thus far in his career, Cabrera has allowed 367 base hits and he has 495 strikeouts in 453 innings pitched. He has allowed 201 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.310 and a FIP of 3.9. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.18 and he has gone up against 1,935 batters during his pro baseball career. Cabrera (27-29 career record) has a 3.99 ERA while allowing 7.3 hits per nine innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Philadelphia (+150)

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