After making a statement prior to their last series before the All-Star break, the New York Mets pack up and head to Chicago to play at Wrigley Field. They’ll play the Chicago Cubs for the first time this year.
Behind a 3-RBI showing from shortstop Francisco Lindor, the Mets (55-34) came out on top in the rubber match of their three-game set with division-rival Atlanta.
New York Batters Performance Recap
Five different New York batters, including left fielder Mark Canha and catcher Tomas Nido, came across to score in that 7-3 triumph.
Going into this one, the Mets hold a 2.5-game advantage on the Braves in the National League East. Having pinned up 27 wins as the away club, New York hasn’t been easy to outlast when they’re on the road.
Meanwhile, Chicago (34-54) is reeling. They’re on a six-game slide after being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road and by Baltimore at home in the Friendly Confines.
Only one of those defeats came by a margin of more than two runs. In terms of kick-starting things, the Mets aren’t one of the MLB teams that one would readily choose to try to do so against.
Cubs in the NLC Stats
That’s the task that the Cubs will be faced with, though. As of this moment, Chicago is in fourth place in the National League Central.
They’re 14.5 games behind Milwaukee — and going 2-8 in their last ten outings hasn’t done them much good.
Prior to giving you a few free MLB picks, let’s take a quick look at the Cubs’ offensive numbers. Thus far, Chicago’s bats have been average.
Cubs Batting Average
The team’s .245 collective batting average grades out in the middle of the NL and is better than teams that have had better fortunes, like San Diego and the Brewers.
Shortstop Nico Hoerner paces the order by hitting .304 on the year. Over the last week, he’s notched seven hits in 24 at-bats.
Over that span, no member of the lineup with at least ten trips to the plate has swung better. At home, left fielder Ian Happ leads the charge with a .331 average and 49 total knocks. The Cubs’ home run and scoring output both rank in the bottom third of the Senior Circuit.
Cubs vs. Mets Odds
MLB Odds favors the visiting team to take advantage of the Cubs’ losing streak here. New York is -1.5 on the run line at +132, while the Cubs are -160 to cover the spread.
On the moneyline, the Mets are -130 and Chicago a +110 underdog. The total set at 7.5 runs, with the over being -110 and the under the same at the time of this writing.
Mets in the MLB Score Rank
New York has had no shortage of runs this season. The Mets rank fourth in the major leagues with 421 runs scored, behind only the:
- New York Yankees
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Atlanta
They grade out the same in terms of RBIs.
Mets Lineup Breakdown
First baseman Pete Alonso has driven a team-high 72 runs in, while shortstop Francisco Lindor has 64. The former also pace the New York lineup with 23 home runs and 88 total hits.
As it pertains to batting average, second baseman Jeff McNeil is tops on the team, hitting .311. Right fielder Starling Marte follows behind with a .291 batting average.
As a unit, the New York Mets have a .254 showing at the dish, which is the third-best mark in the NL, behind the Dodgers and Colorado Rockies.
Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets Betting Preview
Who Is Starting for the Mets?
Carlos Carrasco, a 35-year-old righty, is slated to be on the bump for the Mets. Record-wise, he’s done pretty well this year, posing a 9-4 ledger to this point. He has a 4.55 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP.
New York has won both of his outings in July, as he pitched a combined 11.1 innings and gave up three earned runs in that time.
Worth noting that Carrasco hasn’t been able to lead his team to more than two wins in a row the entire campaign.
As a staff, the Mets rank seventh in MLB with a 3.73 ERA and also ranked in the bottom third in home runs permitted in the league.
Who Is Starting for the Cubs?
Keegan Thompson, who will oppose Carrasco on the mound, has a 7-3 record this season for the Cubs. He has a 3.04 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 19 appearances, 11 of which being starts.
As of late, however, Chicago has lost his last three starts, two coming in extra frames. Against the Dodgers last Friday, he went 5.2 innings, giving up only two hits and an unearned run while also striking out eight challengers.
Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets Picks and Predictions
In making Mets vs. Cubs betting predictions, it’s more likely that the Mets find a way to cover here, using the momentum they gained by fending off pesky Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
New York will get off to a good start in this four-game slate. Take them to win by at least two runs over a recently-hapless Cubs crew.
MLB Pick: Mets -1.5 (+132)
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