Cubs vs. Phillies: The best player prop bets for Sept. 16

The Chicago Cubs (66-80) will look to play spoiler tonight as they close out their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies (73-72).

The Phillies currently sit three games back of a wild card spot and will have to finish the season with a nearly flawless run to leapfrog the three teams ahead of them. Luck hasn't been on their side lately, as Philly is 5-8 in September and almost blew last night’s 6-5 win over the Cubs with some suspect relief pitching. 

It won’t be an easy matchup tonight as the Cubs will start ace Kyle Hendricks (14-6, 4.54 ERA, 122 Ks), while the Phillies have not yet named a starter and are expected to open the game with one of their relievers.

First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. ET and we have three player prop bets to examine below.

KYLE HENDRICKS: OVER/UNDER 3.5 STRIKEOUTS

Kyle Hendricks has been the go-to-guy this season when the Cubs need a win. The World Series champ has already tallied 14 victories, which is eight more than Zach Davies, who ranks second on the Cubs in wins.

Although he’s not well known for being a high volume strikeout artist, Hendricks still has an effective arsenal to rack up a decent amount of strike-threes during an outing. After going six stellar innings, with four punch-outs and only four hits against the San Francisco Giants, Hendricks will look to continue that momentum into tonight against a Phillies offense that may be feeling the pressure to perform a little too much in another crucial game.

PICK: OVER 3.5 STRIKEOUTS (-127)

BRYCE HARPER: OVER/UNDER 0.5 RBIs

Bryce Harper leads the MLB with a 1.038 OPS and is a nightmare matchup for pitchers, typically batting in the third spot for the Phils.

Harper has been seeing the ball with giant googly eyes lately, as he’s hitting .476 with seven RBIs and four HRs in his last seven games. He had another solid night yesterday, going 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Count on Harper to give Hendricks fits tonight, and to provide the Phillies with some crucial runs batted in.

PICK: OVER 0.5 RBIs (+110)

IAN HAPP: TO HIT A HOME RUN

The Cubs have done a decent job slugging the ball this year, with 193 total homers. That's good for 10th best in the MLB.

Centerfielder Ian Happ is second on the team in home runs for the Cubs, behind third-baseman Patrick Wisdom. However, Happ has been hotter as of late, belting three bombs in his last seven games with a .296 average, compared to Wisdom’s one lone homer and unimpressive .208 BA.

We’re feeling the long ball tonight for Happ against a Phillies' bullpen that will be stretched thin without a starting pitcher to eat up the first half of the game.

PICK: YES (+333)