Where: Wrigley Field, Tuesday through Thursday.
Pitching matchups and start times: RHP Michael Mercado (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-4, 3.60) Tuesday at 8:05 p.m.; RHP Zack Wheeler (9-4, 2.73) vs. LHP Shota Imanaga (7-2, 3.07) Wednesday at 8:05 p.m.; LHP Cristopher Sanchez (6-3, 2.41) vs. RHP Jameson Taillon (4-4, 3.03) Thursday at 2:20 p.m.
Series: The Phillies and Cubs have not met this season. The Cubs lead the all-time series, 1,243-1,125.
Cubs Update (39-46): The Cubs have won three of their last 10 and are just 11-19 over their last 30 contests. Wesneski faced the Phils once in Sept. 2022 and surrendered one run over five frames to secure a win. He struggled his last time out though last week against the Giants, allowing a pair of homers and three runs over four innings. Christopher Morel leads the club with 15 homers and 45 RBIs, but he's hitting just .198. As a whole, the team is hitting .228 on the year, the sixth worst figure in baseball.
Phillies Update (55-29): Mercado is the next man up to take the No. 5 rotation spot vacated by Taijuan Walker and Spencer Turnbull. He was operating as a starter at Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to his June 23 call-up. He posted a 1.71 ERA and 44:23 K:BB in 47 1/3 innings at Triple-A this season. The Phillies are 22-15 on the road this season, while the pitching staff's 3.19 ERA on the road is the best in the Majors.
Injuries: Cubs -- RHP Keegan Thompson (ribs), RHP Javier Assad (forearm), RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (forearm), OF Mike Tauchman (groin), LHP Jordan Wicks (oblique), RHP Ben Brown (neck), 2B Nick Madrigal (hand), RHP Adbert Alzolay (forearm), RHP Yency Almonte (shoulder), RHP Julian Merryweather (shoulder), and RHP Caleb Kilian (shoulder) are on the injured list.
Phillies -- 1B Bryce Harper (hamstring), RHP Taijuan Walker (blister), RHP Spencer Turnbull (shoulder), DH Kyle Schwarber (groin), J.T. Realmuto (knee), RHP Michael Rucker (hand), and RHP Dylan Covey (shoulder).
Next: The Phillies head to Atlanta for a three-game set with the division rival Braves.
