Two of the most powerful offenses in the National League will look to put on a show at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon, as the Central-leading Chicago Cubs will host the East’s Philadelphia Phillies, who are looking to keep their World Series odds from falling any further.
Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs – 3:55 PM ET
Brett Myers (7-10, 4.49) tossed his second straight shutout in a 5-0 win over the Dodgers at home, throwing a nine-hitter over seven innings, along with eight strikeouts and three walks. The 28-year-old righthander got off to a 3-9 start and was promptly sent to the minors, but has come back with renewed confidence. In his seven starts since coming back to the majors, Myers has allowed only nine runs, given up a pair of homers, and has posted a 4-1 record. One of Myers’ best outings of the season came against the Cubs, as he scattered three runs on five hits over eight innings to lead the Phillies to a 5-3 win at home.
Ted Lilly (13-7, 4.23) has become the forgotten man in the Chicago rotation with Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster on board, but the 32-year-old southpaw has been as crucial to the Cubs’ World Series odds as anyone. He claimed his second win in three starts during a 12-3 rout at Pittsburgh, giving up three runs on seven hits over seven innings, while striking out seven with a single walk. If there is a negative from this outing, it is that Lilly gave up a pair of homers to the Pirates, but those were his only two mistakes of the game. Lilly was pelted in his last start against the Phillies, lasting just 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits as the Cubs fell 7-1 in Philadelphia.
The Cubs used a late rally to take the opener of this four-game set by a 6-4 scoreline, scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning behind Aramis Ramirez’s grand slam. Expect more fireworks in this one, and it will be up to Lilly and Myers to minimize the damage. Lilly has a slight edge in the pitching match-up, so bet on the Chicago Cubs to take one more step towards the playoffs with a win on Saturday.
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