Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies preview, Wednesday 4/22, 6:40 CT

Today’s roster move: Here

Wednesday notes…

• STREAKING: The Cubs’ seven-game winning streak is their 107th since 1901 of at least seven games. It is their longest since they won eight in a row July 2-192, 2023. Their last that ended after seven games was Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2021. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• PITCHING: Cubs pitchers have allowed exactly six hits in each of the last three games. They have allowed no more than six in 11 games this season. The Cubs have won nine of them. Last year, they were 46-13 in such games, a winning percentage of .780. When they gave up seven or more, they were 46-57, .447. The Cubs rank third among all 30 teams in fewest hits per nine innings (7.3), fewest walks per nine (3.0) and fewest hit plus walks per nine (1.146). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• DANSBY, HEATING UP: Dansby Swanson, last 13 games since April 7: .233/.393/.535 (10-for-43) with a double, four home runs, 10 RBI, 12 walks and 16 runs scored.
• TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Jason Heyward’s 10th inning walk-off single scored Javier Báez to give the Cubs a 4-3 win over the Mets. It happened five years ago today, Thursday, April 22, 2021.

The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.

Phillies lineup:

Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Kyle Backhus, LHP

Matthew Boyd returns tonight from an injured list stint for a bicep issue.

His first start this year on Opening Day wasn’t good; his second was excellent, with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Overall Boyd has 17 strikeouts in 9.1 innings this year (struck out 17 of 37 batters faced). In his rehab start last Thursday for Triple-A Iowa, Boyd struck out six of 16 batters faced.

Boyd made one start vs. the Phillies last year, June 9 in Philadelphia, and the difference in the game was, in part, Boyd’s own throwing error on a pickoff that led to an unearned run. No current Phillie has more than six career AB vs. Boyd.

Kyle Backhus is opening tonight’s game, and likely throws only one or two innings. The most pitches he’s thrown in any game this year is 41, last Wednesday against the Cubs in Philadelphia. Dansby Swanson homered off him. He also threw to five batters in Monday’s game at Wrigley Field.

Taijuan Walker was supposed to get the start tonight, and he’s likely the “bulk guy” in this game.

Walker’s 2026 season has been pretty awful. He’s made four starts, has a 9.16 ERA (yikes!) and has allowed six home runs in just 18.1 innings (double yikes!). He had one decent start (April 11 vs. the D-backs) where he allowed two runs in five innings, the other three were .. yikes.

Perhaps Alex Bregman will break out tonight. He’s 6-for-11 (.545) lifetime vs. Walker.

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.