Two teams that are trending up will cross paths, with the Philadelphia Phillies (40-37) hitting up the North Side to face the Chicago Cubs (37-39). These teams met in Philadelphia last month, with the Phillies taking two of three. Will things change in Wrigleyville? That's what this week will determine, particularly this second game scheduled for Wednesday night. The first pitch will be at 8:05 p.m. EDT if nature holds up, and Wrigley Field will welcome fans for the festivities.
There was a blip against the Braves, but since June 3 the Phillies are 15-5. They're only a few games out of a playoff spot as they strive for another pennant. Scoring has been a struggle for this Phillies lineup most of the season, but June has seen them average just under five runs per game. Even with a strikeout rate that's 23rd in the league, Philadelphia is 10th in batting average, 15th in OBP, and 12th in slugging percentage. Rhys Hoskins' injury was a massive blow, but the bats on the roster have proven they can withstand his absence this season.
Starting off STRONG #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/wHeQqqA3Ef
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 25, 2023
Pitching hasn't been great in Philadelphia, but it hasn't been terrible. One could argue that a lot of their hurlers have underperformed. Aaron Nola, who was fourth in NL Cy Young voting last season, has unquestionably taken a dip in 2023. Across the board, Nola's numbers are worse than in 2022, and his ERA+ of 97 indicates he's now a below-average pitcher. The good news is that Nola held the Cubs to two runs over 7.0 innings in May. The bad news is that he has allowed at least four runs in his past five road starts, leading to a 5.17 away ERA.