PHILADELPHIA vs NEW YORK
When: 12/26/2020 7:30 PM
Where:

TV: 7:30 PM
LINE: 7.5
PREDICTION: NEW YORK , PHILADELPHIA

Oddsmakers currently have the NEW YORK listed as 7.5 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 219.

The New York Knicks spent two-plus quarters exceeding expectations Wednesday night before looking like a team in the beginning of yet another long rebuild.

The Philadelphia 76ers waited until the fourth quarter Wednesday to fully perform like a perennial contender with its rebuild in the rearview mirror.

Both the Knicks and 76ers will be looking to establish more consistency Saturday night when they face off in New York in the second game of the season for both teams.

Each squad was off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day after opening the season at home Wednesday night. The Knicks faded in the second half of a 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers and the 76ers stormed back from a double-digit, second-half deficit to edge the Washington Wizards, 113-107.

The Knicks, whose seven-season playoff drought is the longest among Eastern Conference teams and the third-longest in the NBA, offered some signs of progress Wednesday night.

Fueled by RJ Barrett, who drained his first eight shots, and Julius Randle, who flirted with a triple-double before finishing with 17 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds, New York led the Pacers for much of the game’s middle stretch before being outscored 47-30 over the final 18-plus minutes.

The decent start wasn’t enough to satisfy first-year head coach Tom Thibodeau, who arrived in New York with the reputation as a defensively-minded taskmaster. He directed the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves to six playoff berths in his previous seven full seasons as a head coach.

“Our schedule tells us we have to be ready to be better every day,” Thibodeau said. “We played about 24 minutes of good basketball. To win on the road, you have to do a lot better than that.”

The 76ers are no stranger to long processes — they’ve made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons following a well-documented five-year bottoming out — and are now at the point where they can get away with 24 or fewer good minutes.

Philadelphia led by 13 with five minutes left in the first half before the Wizards went on a 22-8 run to take a 59-58 lead at halftime. The 76ers were down by as many as 12 points in the third quarter and trailed 83-73 entering the fourth quarter before they outscored the Wizards 40-24 over the final 12 minutes.

“You know what I loved about the game is we didn’t play well,” 76ers head coach Doc Rivers said after winning his debut with Philadelphia.

“We had stretches that we played well. You can see in that little third quarter — body language is struggling, (they) caught themselves and they just find a way to win. The execution down the stretch of the fourth quarter for a team that hasn’t been together was unbelievable on both ends. So we love that part.”

The 76ers didn’t play on Christmas for the first time since 2016. The Knicks, who have played on Christmas Day an NBA-record 53 times, we’re off on the holiday for the second straight season.

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PHILADELPHIA vs DALLAS
When: 12/27/2020 4:25 PM
Where:

TV: 4:25 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: DALLAS , PHILADELPHIA

Oddsmakers currently have the DALLAS listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.5.

A lot has changed in the past two months, since Week 8, when the starting quarterbacks for the Philadelphia-Dallas game were rookie Ben DiNucci for the Cowboys and veteran Carson Wentz for the Eagles.

For this Sunday’s NFC East rematch in Arlington, Texas, they have sort of flip-flopped behind center, with Philly starting a rookie and Dallas starting a veteran.

Two native Texans will be under center as 22-year-old rookie Jalen Hurts leads Philadelphia (4-9-1) against 33-year-old veteran Andy Dalton and Dallas (5-9).

With the Washington Football Team sitting at 6-8, both teams need to win and get some help to keep their faint playoff pulse going.

Hurts, a second-round pick, is 1-1 as the starter since replacing Wentz. After an upset win against New Orleans in Week 14, the Eagles fell 33-26 last Sunday at Arizona despite 338 yards and four touchdowns from Hurts (three passes and a 7-yard run).

“He led the team. He played mentally and physically tough,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. “He’s an extremely hard worker. He’s diligent. He wants to improve. He took the loss (Sunday) very personally. He wants to get back out there and keep going.”

Since taking over for Wentz in the second half at Green Bay in Week 13, Hurts has generated 812 yards of total offense (614 passing, 198 rushing) with six TDs. Most important, perhaps, is that he has turned the ball over only twice in those 10 quarters. Wentz hasn’t played since Dec. 6 and his 15 interceptions are still two more than any other player.

“I think I hate losing more than I love to win,” Hurts said after coming up short against the Cardinals. “It’s not a great feeling. It’s a learning lesson. Everything can be better moving forward.”

The Cowboys have certainly played better since Dalton returned to the lineup in Week 11, winning back-to-back games and three of their last five. He has completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 1,097 yards with 10 scores and three picks during that five-game stretch. He has not been intercepted since Dec. 8.

Signed to a one-year deal to back up Dak Prescott, Dalton’s stay in Dallas could be extended beyond this season based on his recent play.

“He’s doing a great job, and certainly we’d love to have him back,” Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 FM The Fan after Sunday’s 41-33 win against the 49ers.

“We’ll just have to address that at the end of the year in terms of what goals, what he’s wanting to do, what his opportunities are, but he’s a guy who’s from this area, went to school over at TCU, and I know he makes his home right here in Dallas. … So, I’m sure we’ll have every opportunity to talk through what the business is going to be with Andy, but he’s just a class act.”

After missing his first-ever regular-season game due to injury last week, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (calf) did resistance training at practice Wednesday and could be back in the lineup Sunday.

Tony Pollard scored twice and gained 132 yards from scrimmage (69 yards on a 5.8-yard rushing average with two TDs), against the Niners in Elliott’s absence.

Five players missed Wednesday’s workouts for the Cowboys: linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (ankle), defensive tackle Antwaun Woods (ankle), safety Xavier Woods (ribs), cornerback Rashard Robinson (knee) and tight end Blake Bell (illness). Receiver Michael Gallup (hip), linebackers Jaylon Smith (wrist) and Sean Lee (knee) and corners Chidboe Awuzie (ankle/knee) and Trevon Diggs (foot) were full participants.

Cornerback Darius Slay was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice for Philly after missing the Arizona game with a concussion. Rookie wideout Jalen Reagor (ankle) and linebacker Duke Riley (bicep) were both limited, while Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (neck, rest), defensive end Josh Sweat (wrist), cornerback Kevon Seymour (knee), tight end Richard Rodgers (ankle) and punter Cameron Johnston (concussion) did not participate.

The Eagles are looking to sweep the season series for the first time since 2011. In the first meeting, Philadelphia sacked DiNucci four times and the 2020 seventh-rounder lost two fumbles.

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WASHINGTON vs PHILADELPHIA
When: 1/3/2021 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -4.5
PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA , WASHINGTON

Oddsmakers currently have the PHILADELPHIA listed as -4.5 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.5.

The battle for the last playoff spot comes down to the last game of the season and involves one of the last teams anyone thought would be in this position back in September.

The Washington Football Team (6-9), which began the season by abandoning a controversial nickname and ends it by moving on from a controversial quarterback, will clinch the NFC East with a victory Sunday night against the host Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1).

A loss to the Eagles will give the division title and No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs to the winner of Sunday afternoon’s game between the visiting Dallas Cowboys (6-9) and New York Giants (5-10).

Washington played well in two previous appearances in the national spotlight, roasting the Cowboys 41-16 on Thanksgiving Day and defeating the previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers 23-17 in a Monday game in Week 13. Both of those wins were on the road.

“The one thing I will say, the other two games we’ve been on the stage: our guys came out and played well and had fun,” said head coach Ron Rivera. “That’s the biggest thing. We’ve got to get back to having a little bit of fun. The truth of the matter is we’re playing with house money. That’s the best part about it.”

In his first season on the job, Rivera has Washington on the brink of its first playoff berth since 2015.

“Take the pressure off ourselves and go have fun. That’s the truth of the matter,” Rivera said. “We control our own destiny. It’s in our hands. All the cliches. We’re going to have fun with it and go with it.”

Second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins won’t be part of the fun. Washington released the 2019 first-round pick on Monday, the day after he committed three turnovers in a 20-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers and a few days after he was fined $40,000 and stripped of his captaincy for COVID-19 protocol violations.

Haskins passed for 178 yards and a touchdown in Washington’s season-opening 27-17 victory against Carson Wentz and the Eagles. Sixteen weeks later, Haskins is gone and Wentz is on the bench for the fourth straight game since losing his job to rookie Jalen Hurts.

Rivera is hoping Alex Smith will return after missing two games with an injured right calf. If not, Taylor Heinicke will run the offense for Washington. Smith did not practice Wednesday.

The Eagles, who have allowed 1,039 yards in their last two losses, want to make sure whoever is under center for Washington does not have any fun Sunday night.

Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz issued a “no-hat rule” this week, meaning he wants to make sure Washington doesn’t get to celebrate at Lincoln Financial Field.

“We’ve got to have a no-hat rule this week,” he said. “We can’t let opponents put division win hats on at the Linc. There’s a lot of pride in that, and all our focus has to be to accomplishing that this week.”

Nine players did not practice for the Eagles on Wednesday, including defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (neck), defensive end Derek Barnett (calf), wide receiver DeSean Jackson (ankle) and tight end Dallas Goedert (calf). Linebacker Duke Riley (biceps) was a limited participant.

In addition to Smith, leading rusher Antonio Gibson (toe) and leading receiver Terry McLaurin (ankle) were among the six players held out of practice Wednesday by Washington. Linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (ankle) and defensive tackle Tim Settle (shoulder) were limited participants.

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PHILADELPHIA vs WASHINGTON
When: 9/13/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 6.5
PREDICTION: WASHINGTON , PHILADELPHIA

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as 6.5 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 45.

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CLEVELAND vs PHILADELPHIA
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS Philadelphia
LINE: -10
PREDICTION: 76ers 109, Cavaliers 101

Oddsmakers currently have the PHILADELPHIA listed as -10 point favorites versus the CLEVELAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 219.

The Philadelphia 76ers put a disappointing road trip behind them by knocking off the Charlotte Hornets at home on Sunday and will try to stay undefeated in their own arena when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The 76ers dropped the final three of a four-game trip by an average of 3.3 points but controlled the game at home on Sunday to improve to 3-0 in Philadelphia.

76ers center Joel Embiid missed the first two games of the road trip while serving a suspension for fighting with Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns and struggled with his shot in high-altitude losses at Utah and Denver but was on the mark Sunday. Embiid scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting after going a combined 11-of-33 from the floor against the Jazz and Nuggets. The Cavaliers are one of the few teams in the East that can match Philadelphia’s size up front with Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson in the frontcourt, but the team showed some growth on Sunday by earning a win while the two struggled. Cleveland is developing a young backcourt and continues to get inspired performances from youngsters Collin Sexton and Darius Garland.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (4-5): Sexton took control against the New York Knicks on Sunday and scored a season-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, but it was his defensive effort that stuck out to coach John Beilein. “I love the way he attacks the basket, but I think what’s being underrated here is his growth from last year to this year on his defense,” Beilein told reporters of Sexton. “You can see he’ll still make a mistake every now and then – everybody does – but for the most part, he’s an athlete who should become a very good defender.” Sunday marked the best defensive effort overall for the Cavaliers, who held the Knicks to 36 percent from the floor while allowing a season low in points.

ABOUT THE 76ERS (6-3): All-Star point guard Ben Simmons suffered a shoulder injury in Utah and sat out the last two games, but Philadelphia found a combination that worked in that spot on Sunday. Raul Neto started and delivered nine points and four assists in 29 minutes while Trey Burke came off the bench and added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists in 19 minutes. Burke was part of a solid effort from the reserves that included 17 points from Furkan Korkmaz, who scored in double figures in five of the last six contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. 76ers SG Josh Richardson is 4-of-8 from 3-point range over the last two games after going 4-of-16 over the previous three contests.

2. Cleveland PG Jordan Clarkson is 3-of-16 from beyond the arc over his last three games.

3. Philadelphia took five of the last six in the series.

PREDICTION: 76ers 109, Cavaliers 101

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PHILADELPHIA vs ATLANTA
When: 8:20 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC.
LINE: Eagles -1.5.
O/U: 52.5
PREDICTION: Eagles 28, Falcons 24

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as 1 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.

The Philadelphia Eagles aim to begin a season with a 2-0 mark for the second time in four years on Sunday night when they visit the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking to avert an 0-2 start for the first time since 2007. The Eagles were able to overcome a 17-point deficit in their 32-27 win over Washington while Atlanta was unable to climb out of a four-touchdown deficit in its 28-12 setback to Minnesota.

Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz established quick chemistry with the returning DeSean Jackson on a pair of long scoring strikes to highlight his three-touchdown performance versus the Redskins. “Once again, this is his show, and he is driving the car,” said the 32-year-old Jackson, who reeled in eight receptions for 154 yards against his former team. Pennsylvania-born Matt Ryan was intercepted twice and sacked four times to put the Falcons in a sizable hole versus the Vikings while a banged up offensive line did little for Devonta Freeman, who had eight carries for 19 yards and a fumble. “I don’t want to make (it about) one game … that’s not indicative of who I think we will be. Or, who we were in that game,” Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (1-0): While it’s transparent that wideout Alshon Jeffrey (receiving and rushing touchdown) and tight end Zach Ertz will have significant impacts on the passing game, it’s not exactly clear how Philadelphia’s congested backfield will play out this season. Speedy rookie Miles Sanders and veteran Darren Sproles each had 12 touches in the opener while offseason acquisition Jordan Howard amassed 55 scrimmage yards on just 17 plays. “Sometimes it’s the hot hand,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said, “but sometimes it’s based on game plan and who is in at that particular time.” Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who is nursing a toe injury, has registered 3.5 sacks in his past four games against Atlanta and had 7.5 of his 10.5 sacks last season on the road.

ABOUT THE FALCONS (0-1): Julio Jones, who found the end zone in the fourth quarter to salvage his season-opening performance, has recorded five 100-plus-yard efforts in six all-time meetings with Philadelphia. Another such performance would be Jones’ 50th of his career and likely push his receiving yard total (10,762) past former teammate Roddy White (10,863). Fellow wideout Calvin Ridley also scored a late touchdown against Minnesota and returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where he collected six receiving scores in eight games during his rookie season in 2018. Tight end Austin Hooper continues to provide a trusted outlet for Ryan after reeling in a team-leading nine catches in the opener.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ryan has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 16 consecutive contests dating to Atlanta’s 18-12 loss to Philadelphia in the 2018 season opener.

2. The Eagles agreed to terms with Akeem Spence and placed fellow DT Malik Jackson (foot) on injured reserve.

3. Atlanta’s Jamon Brown will play RG in place of first-round pick Chris Lindstrom, who was placed on injured reserve with a broken foot.

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WASHINGTON vs PHILADELPHIA
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -9
PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA , WASHINGTON

Oddsmakers currently have the PHILADELPHIA listed as -9 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.

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PHILADELPHIA vs SAN DIEGO
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (33-26) at San Diego Padres (30-29)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 03 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS San Diego
LINE: 130
PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Padres 2

Oddsmakers currently have the SAN DIEGO listed as 130 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.

The Philadelphia Phillies are letting their lead in the National League East slip away and look to move back in a positive direction when they visit the struggling San Diego Padres on Monday for the opener of a three-game set. The Phillies were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, capped by an 8-0 setback, and acquired veteran outfielder Jay Bruce to add some punch to their bench Sunday.

“I get to go somewhere I have a chance to win, and at this point in my career, that’s pretty paramount for me,” Bruce, who was batting .212 with 14 homers with Seattle, told mlb.com. “. … I look forward to going over there and helping the Phillies hopefully win a championship. That’s my goal. I just want to win.” Philadelphia (33-26) leads Atlanta by one game in the NL East and hopes to halt a four-game losing streak when it sends right-hander Aaron Nola to the mound seeking to win his eighth consecutive decision dating to the last start of 2018 while San Diego counters with lefty Eric Lauer. The Padres (30-29) have given up 46 runs while going 2-5 in their last seven contests after falling 9-3 for the second straight outing Sunday against the Miami Marlins – a game delayed 28 minutes by a swarm of bees. Hunter Renfroe provided all of the offense with two homers in the latest loss for San Diego and is 4-for-9 with three blasts and four RBIs in the past three games while teammate Manny Machado is mired in a 0-for-12 slump with six strikeouts.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (6-0, 4.18 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Lauer (4-4, 4.45)

Nola was 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA in May and the Phillies earned the victory in all six of his starts after they were losers in four of the 25-year-old’s five outings during April. The LSU product limited St. Louis to one run on four hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts Wednesday to win his third straight start and seventh in a row, dating back to 2018. Renfroe is 3-for-5 with two doubles versus Nola, who blanked the Padres over six innings in a win last year.

Lauer has won his last two starts in impressive fashion while permitting two runs on eight hits over 12 1/3 innings combined with 11 strikeouts and zero walks. The 23-year-old Kent State product, who had gone six starts without a win before the last two, has been much better at home (2-2, 2.67 ERA) than on the road (2-2, 6.84). The 2016 first-round pick has walked only 14 batters across 58 2/3 innings as he prepares to face the Phillies for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego 1B Eric Hosmer was 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday, ending a 10-game hitting streak (15-for-40).

2. Philadelphia RF Bryce Harper was hitless in four at-bats Sunday, but is 10-for-24 with two homers and nine RBIs in his last six games.

3. Padres C Austin Hedges is 0-for-10 with eight strikeouts over his last four contests, dropping his average to .187.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Padres 2

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ST LOUIS vs PHILADELPHIA
GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (26-26) at Philadelphia Phillies (31-22)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), NBCS Philadelphia
LINE: -120
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3

Oddsmakers currently have the PHILADELPHIA listed as -120 point favorites versus the ST LOUIS, while the game’s total is sitting at 10.

The Philadelphia Phillies had won seven of their previous nine games before a sluggish start in the finale of their road trip left a sour taste in their mouths. The National League East-leading Phillies aim to get back on track Tuesday when they host the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia’s offense, which erupted for 22 runs in its previous three games, was limited to just one hit — albeit a solo homer by Andrew Knapp — before dropping a 9-1 setback to Milwaukee on Sunday. Bryce Harper, who has struck out five times during his 0-for-7 stretch, belted a grand slam among his two hits in the Phillies’ 11-1 romp in St. Louis on May 7. The Cardinals lost two of three in that series and did the same in their most recent one, as they squandered a three-run lead in the ninth inning before dropping a 4-3 decision in 10 to Atlanta on Sunday. “This one stings a little more than most,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “When you get to that point in the game, we’ve just got to be able to figure a way to bring it home.”

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (4-4, 4.82 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (2-1, 8.35)

Wainwright answered an 0-2 mark in his last three starts by evening his record on Wednesday after allowing three runs on six hits in five innings of a 10-3 win versus Kansas City. The 37-year-old has struggled with his control of late, permitting nine walks in his last two starts (nine innings). Offseason acquisitions Jean Segura (10-for-22, homer) and Harper (9-for-20, homer) have flustered Wainwright, who owns a 7-2 mark with a 2.90 ERA in 15 career encounters (13 starts) against Philadelphia.

Pivetta will return to the starting rotation for the first time since April 16 after being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 26-year-old British Columbia native was rocked for 18 runs and 31 hits — including five homers — in his first four starts of the season with the Phillies before working out the kinks with the IronPigs. Pivetta struck out 50 in 37 innings in Triple-A to show signs of the form he exhibited when he fanned 188 in 33 appearances with Philadelphia last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis 1B Paul Goldschmidt went 1-for-11 with four strikeouts in the previous series versus Philadelphia.

2. Segura has hit safely in 15 of 16 games since going 1-for-14 in the previous series with the Cardinals.

3. St. Louis C Yadier Molina is expected to play in the series opener despite bruising his right thumb on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3

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PHILADELPHIA vs CHICAGO CUBS
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (28-20) at Chicago Cubs (28-18)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Philadelphia, NBCS Chicago
LINE: -140
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Phillies 1

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO CUBS listed as -140 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Philadelphia Phillies will encounter a familiar face on the mound Wednesday, when they play the third contest of their four-game series against the host Chicago Cubs. Cole Hamels, who earned the 2008 World Series Most Valuable Player honors with the Phillies, will square off against the club for the first time in his career.

Javier Baez slapped the game-winning single in Tuesday’s 3-2 triumph for Chicago, which has alternated losses and wins over the last six games as it clings to first place in the NL Central. Kris Bryant answered an 0-for-5 performance in Monday’s 5-4 setback by reaching base four times (three hits, one walk) and scoring two runs, including the tying one in the ninth inning. Philadelphia’s Jean Segura doubled in the opening frame to extend his hitting streak to 12 games while Cesar Hernandez has gone 9-for-20 with three doubles and a triple in his last five contests. Andrew McCutchen, who recorded a two-run single in the seventh inning on Tuesday, is 8-for-27 against Hamels while fellow former NL MVP Bryce Harper is 8-for-34.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Irvin (2-0, 2.77 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (4-0 3.13)

Irvin followed his impressive major-league debut with his second win in as many starts, permitting four runs – three earned – and five hits in six innings of a 5-4 victory versus Colorado. The 25-year-old helped himself at the plate by working a 10-pitch walk in his first big-league at-bat, setting up McCutchen’s two-run homer. Irvin, however, did himself no favors with a pair of fielding errors in the second inning, leading to the Rockies scoring the first run of the game.

Hamels posted a 114-90 record with Philadelphia from 2006-15 before being traded to Texas in July 2015. The 35-year-old snapped a string of four straight no-decisions on Friday after allowing two runs in five innings of a 14-6 victory at Washington. The Cubs own a 7-2 mark in games started by Hamels despite the hurler surrendering a homer in seven of those outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia 1B Rhys Hoskins is 1-for-20 in his last six games.

2. Chicago C Willson Contreras is 8-for-20 with five RBIs over his last five contests.

3. Phillies 3B Maikel Franco has notched a hit and scored a run in each of his last three games.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Phillies 1

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