Chicago Cubs vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 04/15/26

The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies wrap up their three-game set in what has already been an offensive series. The Phillies took the opener 13-7, while the Cubs responded with a big 1-4 win last night. Taking the mound for the Cubs will be the left-hander Shota Imanaga who enters at 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA through three starts. For the Phillies, the left-hander Jesus Luzardo will get the nod, entering with a 1-2 record and a 6.23 ERA. 

While Luzardo hasn’t looked sharp in his first three games, he does get a somewhat favorable matchup against a Cubs lineup hitting just .225 against left-handed pitching. On the flip side, the Phillies have been even worse in that split, batting just .176 against lefties – giving Iamanga a slight edge in today’s matchup. Neither starter is known for consistently going deep into games, and given how explosive both offenses have been in this series, there’s a strong chance both bullpens can be used early on. This is where things could get interesting – the Phillies hold a 4.64 bullpen ERA, while the Cubs sit at 4.04, and both bullpens were heavily utilized in last night’s game. The Cubs have the better pitcher on the mound and have been slightly better hitting than the Phillies so far this season. Look for the Cubs to pull off a victory on the road as a slight underdog, making them my best bet of the day. 

Cubs vs Phillies prediction: Cubs ML (+115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.