Cubs Open Series vs Phillies in Philadelphia

The Chicago Cubs open a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, aiming to build momentum from a recent comeback victory while the host Phillies seek to snap a skid amid early-season struggles.

Both teams enter the matchup with 7-8 records, reflecting uneven starts to the 2026 season. The Cubs gained confidence with a dramatic 7-6 walk-off win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, where Nico Hoerner, Moises Ballesteros and Carson Kelly each recorded multiple hits, and Kelly delivered the game-winning knock. Chicago's rotation has been hit hard by injuries, including the season-ending loss of promising rookie Cade Horton after just 7.1 innings, echoing last year's setback with Justin Steele. To counter that, the Cubs turn to Javier Assad for his second start. The 28-year-old right-hander impressed in his debut last Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings with one hit and two walks to earn the win. However, Phillies hitters have fared well against him historically, batting .265 over 34 at-bats.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, has dropped five of its last seven games, including a 4-3 loss to the...