<p>
National League division leaders clash when the Cubs and Phillies open a four-game series at the Friendly Confines Monday night. Which way are we going for our free MLB pick?
</p>
<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
</h2>
<p>
Monday's MLB betting odds opened Chicago at around -135 over Philadelphia, and that figure was holding steady in early betting action.
</p>
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</div>
<h2>
Phillies vs. Cubs Set-Up<br />
</h2>
<p>
Philly just swept three games at home from Colorado over the weekend, winning Sunday's series finale 7-5. Just before that the Phillies dropped three of four at home to Milwaukee. But going back a bit further Philadelphia is 4-1 over its last five series and 8-4 over its last 12 games.
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<p>
At 27-19 overall the Phillies lead the NL East by 2.5 games over second-place Atlanta.
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<p>
Chicago, meanwhile, just took two of three games from the Nationals in DC over the weekend, winning Sunday's series rubber match 6-5. Just before that, the Cubs dropped two of three games in Cincinnati, but going back a little further the Cubbies are 10-1-1 over their last 12 series and 15-5 over their last 20 games.
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<p>
At 27-17 overall Chicago leads the NL Central by a game and a half over second-place Milwaukee.
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<p>
This series is the first meeting between these two teams this season. Last year Chicago took the season series from Philadelphia four games to two.
</p>
<h2>
Monday's Starting Arms<br />
</h2>
<p>
Darvish is just 1/9 on quality starts this season and 0 for his last three. Last Wednesday he held the Reds to two runs through 5 1/3 innings, with 11 strikeouts, although the Cubs lost that game 6-5. And over his last three starts, he's allowed eight runs and 12 hits through 13 1/3 innings.
</p>
<p>
On the season Chicago is 4-5 with Darvish, but 3-1 over his last four starts.
</p>
<p>
This will be Darvish's first start against the Phillies since 2017 when he was with the Dodgers, and that's already kind of a long time ago.
</p>
<p>
Former Cub Arrieta, by our stringent standards, is 5/9 on quality starts this year, but 0 for his last two.
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<p>
Last Wednesday he gave up five runs on five hits and four walks through six innings of a 5-2 loss to the Brewers, and just before that he gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks through five innings against Kansas City.
</p>
<p>
Philadelphia is 4-5 with Arrieta this season, 0-3 over his last three starts.
</p>
<p>
It's almost hard to believe, but this will be Arrieta's first-ever start against the Cubs
</p>
<h2>
Monday's Batting Splits<br />
</h2>
<p>
Philly is batting .242/.332/.404 against right-handed pitching this season.
</p>
<p>
Chicago is batting .260/.348/.453 against RH pitching. But this lineup could be without a key stick if SS Javier Baez, who left Sunday's game with a sore heel, can't play.
</p>
<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Phillies bullpen owns a 3.77 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP this season.
</p>
<p>
The Cubs pen owns a 3.92 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Unders are 26-19 in Phillies games this season.
</li>
<li>
Overs are 23-21 in Cubs games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 13-8 in games played at Wrigley Field this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders finished 4-2 in Phillies-Cubs games last season.
</li>
</ul>
<p><section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href=" https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1076773">Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs MLB Match-up Stats </a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
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