Cubs vs Mets | Betting Odds for MLB

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The marquee matchup around Major League Baseball on Monday is a potential postseason preview and the lone national TV game of the night as the Chicago Cubs open a series at the New York Mets, who should be short favorites on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Cubs at Mets MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Monday, 7 PM ET
Where: Citi Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Jake Arrieta/David Peterson
TV: ESPN
Stream/gameday audio: ESPN app
Opening MLB Lines: TBA (on official naming of Cubs pitcher)

Why Bet on Chicago? | Betting Odds for MLB

The Cubs’ 23 one-run contests this year are tied for the most in the majors with the Mets. The Cubs are 13-10 in one-run games, and the 13 victories are tied for the most in the bigs with Seattle (13-6) and the Mets (13-10).

Will the Cubs have star shortstop Javy Baez in the lineup? Baez was scratched from the Cubs starting lineup on Sunday due to renewed soreness in his right thumb. Baez missed the first half of the week with the injury before returning to the Cubs lineup on Friday. He went 1-for-8 with five strikeouts in the two games he played in against the Cardinals. Sergio Alcantara would start if Baez can’t go.

Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner is on the injured list. He has been sidelined since late May due to a left hamstring strain.

It’s expected to be former NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta (5-6, 4.97 ERA) on the mound. Arrieta limited the Padres to just one run over five innings last Wednesday, taking a no-decision in the Cubs’ 3-1 victory. Arrieta came into this one having lasted just two innings in his last start and holding an 8.28 ERA across his previous six outings but dominated the Padres, giving up just four singles and one walk while fanning six batters.

Arrieta had thrown just 80 pitches through his five innings, but skipper David Ross elected to pinch-hit for his starter in the top of the sixth in what was a tie game at the time. Ross said he might have let Arrieta throw past the fifth inning if the bullpen didn’t have an off day to recover the following day. Arrieta punctuated his strong outing with three straight strikeouts in his last frame.

“He attacked the strike zone,” Ross said of Arrieta. “It looked like the ball had real bite to the finish underneath the zone. A lot of strikes.”

Arrieta beat the Mets on April 20 at Wrigley Field, allowing one run and three hits over five innings. He also contributed to two runs at the plate in the 3-1 victory.

Why Bet on New York? | Betting Odds for MLB

The Mets couldn’t complete the home sweep of the San Diego Padres over the weekend, dropping the finale 7-3 on Sunday. That snapped New York’s six-game home winning streak. Jose Peraza did have a two-run homer in the fifth inning. All four of his home runs this year have given the Mets the lead. Those four go-ahead homers are the most on the team.

Star shortstop Francisco Lindor was 2-for-4 with a double, his team-high 12th multi-hit game of the year. He’s slashing .327/.386/.615 in his last 13 games (1.001 OPS). Second baseman Luis Guillorme was 1-for-3 with a walk and has hit safely in both of his starts since returning from the injured list. Starting second baseman Jeff McNeil is on an injury rehab assignment. Infielder Jonathan Villar was held out of the Mets starting lineup on Sunday due to a family matter. The 30-year-old has taken on a much bigger role than anticipated for the Mets this season, slashing .255/.337/.431 with six homers, 15 RBI and seven stolen bases in 51 games.

It’s lefty David Peterson (1-5, 6.32 ERA) on the mound here. Peterson struggled again last Tuesday in Baltimore, yielding four runs over just 2 2/3 innings. Peterson yielded three straight hits and a couple runs to start off the second inning and the O’s tacked on another run in the frame. The southpaw was finally knocked out by a two-out, RBI double by Pat Valaika in the third. All told, Peterson permitted a whopping eight hits over his 2 2/3 frames.

The Mets are committed to keeping Peterson in the rotation despite a 9.88 ERA over his last four starts. Although the Mets don’t have a wealth of alternative options, Peterson will need to turn things around quickly if he wants to stick. In his 11 starts, Peterson has lasted fewer than five innings six times, and he’s failed to get through the fourth inning in four of them.

Peterson is only 25. Because the Mets needed him last season, he has never pitched in Triple A. And because of the short season, he is basically a rookie.

“You still go through things that are going to make you better,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “I’ve said in some of the outings that he’s had before that these things are making him better. The stuff, it’s there. He’s got a firm fastball, he’s got a good angle, he’s got the slider, he’s got the changeup, he’s got the poise. He’s got a lot there to be a successful pitcher.”