Two teams playing excellent baseball of late meet on Monday in Chicago as the Cubs take on the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cubs have surged to within a half game of the Brewers for the NL Central lead while the Phillies are just 3.5 in back of the Mets in the NL East. SBG Global reports that early betting has the public taking the Cubs at home.
Philadelphia Phillies (55-49) at Chicago Cubs (55-48)
Monday, 7:05 pm Eastern – ESPN
Carlos Zambrano earned his major league-leading 14th win Sunday as Chicago won 6-0 over Cincinnati. With a win tonight the Cubs would move percentage points in front of the Brewers who are idle. The Cubs go with Ted Lilly (11-4, 3.46 ERA), who is looking for his eighth consecutive win. He is 7-0 in eight starts since June 15, and has a 1.83 ERA in five starts this month. He gave up one run and six hits over seven innings of Wednesday's 7-1 victory at St. Louis. Lilly held the Phillies to one run and three hits in seven innings of a 4-1 victory on May 13th.
The Cubs are a PK with a total of 8 under (-125) at SBG Global.
Philadelphia is coming off their first three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2001, with a 5-1 victory Sunday. The Phillies send Cole Hamels (11-5, 3.63) to the mound on Monday. He defeated the Cubs 7-2 earlier this year allowing two runs over seven innings.
The Phillies are 8-1 in their last 9 overall. The Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter. The Phillies are 35-16 in their last 51 vs. the National League Central. The Phillies are 11-1 in Hamels' last 12 starts vs. the National League Central. The Phillies are 12-4 in Hamels' last 16 starts. The Phillies are 1-4 in Hamels' last 5 starts as a road underdog. The Phillies are 11-4 in the last 15 meetings in Chicago.
The Cubs are 10-3 in their last 13 games as a home favorite. The Cubs are 16-7 in their last 23 games as a favorite. The Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter. The Cubs are 6-0 in Lilly's last 6 starts. The Cubs are 4-0 in Lilly's last 4 starts as a home favorite.
The Over is 7-0 in the Phillies last 7 road games vs. a left-handed starter. The Over is 6-1-1 in the Phillies last 8 games as a road underdog. The Over is 9-2-1 in the Phillies last 12 vs. the National League Central. The Over is 13-3-2 in the Phillies last 18 games as an underdog. The Over is 6-2-1 in Hamels' last 9 road starts.
The Under is 10-4-1 in the Cubs last 15 games vs. a left-handed starter. The Under is 5-2-1 in the Cubs last 8 overall. The Over is 5-2 in Lilly's last 7 starts overall. The Under is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings in Chicago between the two teams.
