Middling Mets host rejuvenated Cubs
Although it remains only a half-game behind St. Louis and Miami in the quest to obtain the NL’s second wild card, New York isn’t exactly entering a huge series under the greatest circumstances.
The Mets, losers of five of seven, hope to stabilize matters in time for tonight’s opener vs. the Cubs. Oddsmakers, though, won’t be swayed. Online sports book Bovada.lv likes the visitors as 1.5-run favorites. Terry Collins’ host club, on the other hand, is a +115 underdog.
Having just been swept by division rival Washington, New York (40-37) at least receives the luxury of kicking off an extended homestand. The next 11 contests at Citi Field could well determine whether general manager Sandy Alderson adds or subtracts at the trade deadline. In the here and now, however, Collins simply hands the ball to talented lefty Steven Matz. The second-year hurler labored through his last outing, surrendering six runs over 4 1/3 frames to Atlanta. In a somewhat surprising move, the organization continues to let Matz work through a bone chip in his right elbow.
John Lackey, meanwhile, offers nothing but durability for Chicago. Even though the veteran righty wasn’t especially sharp in last weekend’s 9-6 defeat to the Marlins, he’s on pace to record 15 victories. Perhaps more impressively, Lackey would have to go completely off the rails to miss out on his seventh season of 200-plus innings.
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Joe Maddon’s troops arrive in Flushing fresh off an impressive sweep of the Reds. The Mets, of course, were outscored 35-20 by the Nationals and Braves on an ugly, ugly road trip. Nonetheless, we expect Matz to flummox the Cubbies (51-26) for a bit. The offensive fireworks won’t arrive until later in the set.
THURSDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS/METS UNDER 7.5 RUNS
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