The Chicago Cubs enter tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies having won just once in their past 10 games, and almost the entire blame can be put on their offense.
Since June 1st, the Cubs are dead last in Major League Baseball in batting average at .193. I didn’t think it was possible for an entire team to be that bad at the plate over more than a month of action. They also rank last in OPS during this stretch (.631) and second last in runs scored (102).
Despite the brutal month, they’re still sitting with a .500 record at 42-42, but are 8.5 games back from the Milwaukee Brewers who lead the National League Central at 51-34.
The Cubs are set to open up a four game series against the Phillies tonight, and WynnBET has them set as the -140 favorites. The Phillies are set as +120 road underdogs, and the total for the game is set at 11.5 runs.
I don’t know how the total can be set at 11.5, considering just how bad the Cubs offense has been. I’ll take the under on that number all day. Chicago has scored two or fewer runs in seven of their last nine games. They’re also coming off a three game sweep to the Reds, where they scored a combined five runs in the series.
There’s nothing more painful in sports to watch than a baseball team that couldn’t hit a beach ball if it was pitched to them.
Matt Moore (5.79 ERA) gets the start for the Phillies tonight, and Zach Davies (4.32 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs.
This will be the first time this season that these two teams will meet.