New York Mets vs
Chicago CubsPredictions & Preview

Imanaga Shines as Cubs Set to Dominate Mets at Wrigley Field

On Friday afternoon, the New York Mets will face off against the Chicago Cubs in the first game of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. The Mets, currently in 4th place in the NL East with a record of 35-38, will send Jose Quintana to the mound for his 15th start of the season. The Cubs, leading the NL West with a record of 42-27, will counter with Shota Imanaga making his 14th start. The Cubs split their last series with the Mets earlier this season. The game is scheduled to start at 2:20 PM Eastern time, with Chicago opening as the betting favorite at -151 and the current line at Chicago -143.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Mets +130 | Cubs -143
• Spread: Mets +1.5 (-160) | Cubs -1.5 (+144)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 59%.

New York vs Chicago Stats

New York Mets

New York's seven-game winning streak was snapped by the Texas Rangers in a 5-3 loss on Wednesday. Mets reliever Drew Smith gave up a two-run home run in the seventh inning, leading to the defeat. Starter Sean Manaea pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on two hits. Pete Alonso hit his 16th home run of the season in the loss. Despite the setback, the Mets' offense has been strong recently, scoring five or more runs in four of their last five games. Manager Carlos Mendoza remains optimistic about the team's performance this month. Key injuries are not expected to affect Friday's game. New York has a power ranking of 4, ranks 10th in offense, 22nd in defense, and has a 35-38 record this season.

Chicago Cubs Analysis

The Chicago Cubs had a successful week, taking two out of three games from the San Francisco Giants, including a 6-5 victory in the series finale. Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson hit back-to-back home runs to lead the offense, while Kyle Hendricks earned his first win of the season on the mound. Reliever Colten Brewer also notched his first save of the year. Cubs manager Craig Counsell emphasized the importance of stacking up wins. In terms of power rankings, the Cubs rank 19th overall and 20th for offense, averaging 4.18 runs per game. Their defense ranks 16th, giving up an average of 4.38 runs per game. The Cubs currently have a record of 36-39. Right fielder Mike Tauchman remains on the injured list. In their last three matchups, New York went 1-2 against Chicago.

Imanaga Shines as Cubs Set to Dominate Mets at Wrigley Field

Imanaga demonstrated his effectiveness in his recent start against the Mets, securing a win in New York by pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out seven batters. In contrast, Quintana has yet to secure a win in his eight starts against Chicago. The Cubs have a favorable history against the Mets at home, winning three of their last four matchups while holding their opponents to two runs in four of the last six games. Chicago pitchers have shown great efficiency against New York hitters, boasting a 2.05 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in their last five matchups. The Cubs have performed well on the mound at Wrigley Field this season, ranking fifth in the league for home ERA with 3.29. On the other hand, the Mets have struggled on the road, ranking in the bottom half of the league for ERA with 4.13. With the visiting team losing over 50% of games against the spread in 2024, the statistics and trends favor a strong Cubs victory on Friday afternoon. I recommend betting on the Cubs for this game.

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