New York Mets Vs. Chicago Cubs (7/17/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

This season, the Mets lead the National League East with a record of 56-34 through 90 games; they’re currently -180 to win the division.  New York’s last appearance in the playoffs was 2016; losing in the Wild Card Game to the San Francisco Giants.  The Mets are +700 to win the 2022 World Series, they last won the championship in 1986 and the New Yorkers last appearance in the Fall Classic was 2015.

The Chicago Cubs are 34-55 through 89 games, fourth place in the National League Central.  The Cubs have a .1% chance of making the 2022 postseason.  Between 2015 and 2020, the Cubs made the playoffs in five out of six seasons; they won their only World Series title since 1908 in 2016. 

New York Mets Vs. Chicago Cubs Betting Odds

The Mets are 7-3 in their last 10 during game four of a series.  Over is 5-1 in New York’s last six vs. National League Central opponents.  The Mets are 4-1 in their last five vs. National League Central foes.  Over is 7-1-1 in New York’s last nine road games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Cubs are 0-4 in their last four during game four of a series.  Over is 5-2 in Chicago’s last seven during game four of a series.  The Cubs are 5-11 in their last 16 home games vs. a left-handed starter.  Over is 9-1-1 in Chicago’s last 11 home games vs. a left-handed starter.

New York Mets Starting Lineup

CF B. Nimmo L
RF S. Marte R
SS F. Lindor S
1B P. Alonso R
2B J. McNeil L
3B E. Escobar S
LF M. Canha R
DH D. Smith L
C T. Nido R

New York Mets Vs. Adrian Sampson (R)

Pete Alonso leads the major leagues in runs batted in with 76 this season.  The Mets first baseman is currently third in the National League in home runs with 24.  Additionally, he has 177 total bases, an OPS of .869 with a .527 slugging percentage.  Alonso, an All-Star this season is +500 to win his first National League MVP award. 

Francisco Lindor is batting .245 with 16 home runs and 65 runs batted in: tied for fourth in the National League.  The Mets shortstop is second on the club in total bases with 151, a .434 slugging percentage and an OPS of .752 in 2022.  Jeff McNeil is a lifetime .300 career hitter and third in the National League in hitting at .308.  New York’s number one has hit four home runs, driven in 35 runs with 117 total bases for an OPS of .797 in 2022.  McNeil will be making his second All-Star game appearance this week in Los Angeles.

Starling Marte in his first season as a Met, will be one of the clubs’ All-Star representatives this week.  In 2022, he has 30 extra base hits (nine home runs), 41 runs driven in with a .293 batting average.  The 33-year-old has 140 totals bases, an OPS of .803 while slugging .461 this campaign.  Brandon Nimmo, in his seventh season, is batting .275 with 31 extra base hits, 33 runs batted in with an OPS of .808 while playing gold glove defense in centerfield for New York.

Adrian Sampson is 0-1 in six games (four starts) with an ERA of 3.33 for the Cubs in 2022.  The right hander has thrown 27 innings, striking out 22 while allowing 10 runs with a 1.111 WHIP this year.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup

CF R. Ortega L
DH W. Contreras R
LF I. Happ S
RF S. Suzuki R
SS N. Hoerner R
3B P. Wisdom R
1B F. Schwindel R
C Y. Gomes R
2B C. Morel R

Chicago Cubs Vs. David Peterson (L)

Patrick Wisdom smashed 28 homers and drove in 61 runs last season for the Cubs.  This year he leads the club in home runs (17) and runs batted in (45) while accumulating 136 total bases: second on the Cubs.  Wisdom has an OPS of .769 and a .449 slugging percentage in 2022.  Nico Hoerner is Chicago’s leading hitter with a .308 batting average this season.  He has hit 11 doubles, three triples and five home runs while driving in 26 in 2022.  Additionally, Hoerner has an OPS of .771 with a .430 slugging percentage. 

Ian Happ is hitting .280 with 23 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and a team leading 140 total bases this year.  The 27-year-old has knocked in 41 runs with a .456 slugging percentage and an OPS of .829 in 2022.  This week, he’ll be making his first All-Star game appearance.  Rookie Seiya Suzuki has hit 13 doubles, a triple and six home runs in his first 172 at-bats this season.  Suzuki has accumulated 78 total bases with an OPS of .802 and a slugging percentage of .453 in first season playing in MLB.

Wilson Contreras slammed 21 home runs and drove in 57 runs while accumulating 181 total bases in 2021.  This season, he’s hitting .258 with 13 home runs (second on the club), driven in 35 runs and third on the Cubs in total bases with 130.  Additionally, he has 17 doubles with a .466 slugging percentage and an OPS of .893, which leads Chicago.  Contreras will be the starting catcher for the National League All-Stars this week at Dodger Stadium.

David Peterson is 5-2 in 14 games (12 starts) with an ERA of 3.48 for the Mets this year.  The lefty has tossed 67 1/3 innings, striking out 76 while allowing 26 runs with a 1.248 WHIP in 2022.

New York Mets Vs. Chicago Cubs Picks & Prediction

The Mets are averaging 4.78 runs per nine innings, fourth overall in MLB.  They have a team batting average of .253, seventh in the league, and their OPS is .723, 12^th in baseball.  New York’s pitching staff has allowed 3.86 runs per nine innings, fifth in MLB with opponents’ batting .232, seventh in the majors with an OPS of .674 against the club, seventh in the big leagues. 

Offensively, the Cubs are averaging 4.25 runs per nine innings, 21^st in the majors.  They are hitting .243 as a team, 14^th overall in MLB with an OPS of .711, 14^th overall.  Chicago’s pitching staff is allowing 5.21 runs per nine innings, 25^th in Major League Baseball with opponents hitting .252, 23^rd overall. 

I’m going with the Mets in this game, covering the 1.5 run spread as New York simply has more offensive threats and depth than Chicago.  The Mets get another road victory and head to the All-Star break full of confidence.