🚨 GAME NIGHT PREVIEW: Cubs vs Phillies — April 20 Showdown at 6:40 CT Brings Early-Season Tension 👇 Chicago vs Philadelphia: A Battle for Momentum — Key Storylines and What Fans Need to Know Before First Pitch.

SLAMMING THE DOOR: The Cubs allowed 13 runs at Philadelphia last Monday. Since then, they have allowed 13 more in five games. Yesterday was the first game of the season in which they have up one run. They have given up two in nine games and had one shutout, for a total of 11 games with two or fewer runs. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
THE MOISES FILES: In his 38 big league games, Moises Ballesteros has a batting average of .327, with 33 hits in 101 at bats. Only seven players who made their debuts as a Cub since 1898 have had a higher average through 38 games with at least 101 AB — just one of them in the last 78 years: .370: Bill Everitt, 1898; .358: Dwight Smith, 1989; .355: Bill Lange, 1898; .348: Ray Grimes, 1921; .344: Bobby Mattick, 1938-39; .333: Hal Jeffcoat, 1948, and Andy Pafko, 1943-44. Geovany Soto also batted .327 (37 for 113). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
HEY, THIS GUY’S BEEN PRETTY GOOD: Hoby Milner, last seven games since March 31: 0.00 ERA, 0.818 WHIP, faced 25 batters and retired 20 of them.
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Sammy Sosa’s ninth-inning grand slam put the exclamation point on an 8-2 win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Jon Lieber threw eight scoreless innings. It happened 25 years ago today, Friday, April 20, 2001.

Cubs lineup:

Phillies lineup:

Colin Rea, RHP vs. Aaron Nola, RHP

Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies preview, Monday 4/20, 6:40 CT

This is essentially a pitching rematch of last Tuesday in Philadelphia, although Colin Rea didn’t start that game, Riley Martin did as an opener.

After that, though, Rea threw six really good innings, his only mistake a home run ball to Edmundo Sosa. Rea didn’t walk anyone and struck out five. One more like that, please.

The Cubs hit Aaron Nola pretty well last week in Philadelphia, eight hits, two walks and three runs in five innings. I’d say another one like that, plus a good Rea outing, would equal another win.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Phillies site The Good Phight. If you do go there to interact with Phillies fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.