The Chicago Cubs are on the cusp of history and a crucial series win as they face the Philadelphia Phillies tonight at 5:40 CT. A victory would mark their 1,250th all-time win against the Phillies in a storied rivalry that dates back to 1883, a testament to the deep roots of National League baseball.

However, recent history in Philadelphia tells a different story. The Cubs haven't won a series at Citizens Bank Park since a sweep in July 2022, going 1-2 in each of the last three seasons. Breaking that trend tonight would be a significant momentum boost.

All eyes will be on Cubs starter Shōta Imanaga, who is coming off a dominant, six-inning no-hit performance against the Pirates. He'll need to navigate a Phillies lineup carefully, having given up two homers in his only prior start against them last July. The Cubs' offense, featuring the red-hot Carson Kelly (.414 average in his last nine games), will look to solve Phillies' starter Jesús Luzardo, who has been inconsistent this year but handled the Cubs effectively in 2024.

The lineup card shows a strong group taking the field, with Nico Hoerner leading off and Shōta Imanaga on the mound. Can they channel some historic Cubs magic? On this date in 2001, Sammy Sosa launched a decisive three-run homer to beat the Pirates. The 2024 Cubs are aiming for a similar clutch performance to secure this series and reach a major franchise milestone.