Stitches Shares Betting Prediction for Phillies vs. Cubs Tuesday Matchup

Stitches, the New York Post’s daily baseball handicapper, has released his betting prediction for the Phillies vs. Cubs matchup on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, recommending a $50 wager on Shota Imanaga and the Chicago Cubs at -120 odds via bet365.

The prediction comes after Imanaga’s strong recent performance, having allowed only two runs on six hits over his past 17 innings. In contrast, Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo has seen his ERA rise to 7.94 after yielding 13 runs on 17 hits in his last 10 innings of work.

We cashed when he beat Philly. After further review, the call stands.

Stitches, New York Post

Stitches referenced a personal betting track record, noting that he has cashed nine of his past 10 bets and has finished in the black twice since beginning his daily handicapping role for the Post in 2019. He also highlighted his versatility by mentioning his prior success in winning the Post’s NFL Best Bet crown.

Context from Recent Matchups

The Cubs enter the game having won two of three against the Phillies in their most recent series, setting up a four-game set at Wrigley Field. Chicago has outscored opponents 39-13 during a current five-game win streak, while Philadelphia has struggled offensively, scoring two runs or fewer in four straight games and being outscored 37-9 over that span.

Coachella Reference and Cultural Note

In a characteristic aside, Stitches compared the current Coachella festival lineup—which includes artists such as Justin Bieber, Joe Jonas, Nine Inch Nails, Boys Noize, Young Thug, Peso Pluma, Mariah the Scientist, Freak Slug, Creepy Nuts, Max and Luke Dean, Deep Dish, and Fatboy Slim—to a poor Mets box score, using it as a humorous lead-in to his MLB pick.

Additional Betting Angles

Other betting considerations from recent coverage include an Over/Under pick of Over 8 runs at +105 odds, based on the teams’ tendency to produce high-scoring games. In their three prior meetings this season, one team has scored in double digits each time, and the combined total has reached at least 13 runs in every game. The Over has gone 6-2-2 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings, including 4-0-2 in the last six.

Notably, both teams have shown offensive success against each other’s starters: the Cubs are hitting .292 with a .904 OPS against Aaron Nola, while the Phillies have hit .366 with a .938 OPS and .512 slugging percentage against Colin Rea in a smaller sample. Nico Hoerner has been particularly effective versus Philadelphia, batting .357 in 14 at-bats with a .929 OPS, a home run, eight RBI, and three runs.

Stitches’ recommendation reflects a blend of pitching matchups, recent team trends, and historical patterns in the rivalry, framed within his established role as a daily betting analyst for the New York Post.