It wasn’t pretty, but the Mets recorded a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, getting both wins in extra innings. Friday’s game was rained out after an 8-0 series opening win from New York on Thursday, and now the Mets aim to take all four at Wrigley Field heading into the All-Star Break.
The Cubs come into Sunday’s series finale on the heels of a 9-game losing streak. It doesn’t even look like Chicago wants to win at this point, getting a runner to 3rd base with no outs in the 10th inning of the opener and not getting him home and then letting New York score on an errant pickoff attempt in the 10th inning of the nightcap. The visitors are a -146 favorite in the July 17th Mets at Cubs betting matchup.
Mets Getting It Done
Overall New York has ran their winning streak to four games, putting their 2022 record to 58-34 which is the furthest they’ve been above .500 since 2006. The Mets have seen their lead dwindle to 2.5 games in the NL East with the Atlanta Braves getting red hot, but a sweep at Wrigley Field prior to the All-Star break is a nice way to end the unofficial first half of the season.
Buck Showalter got clever with his bullpen usage on Saturday, using Yoan Lopez – who was added as the 27th player prior to the doubleheader – for two innings after Max Scherzer pitched into the 7th inning in the nightcap.
David Peterson (5-2, 3.48 ERA) will try to keep the Cubs offense in defunct mode when he starts on Sunday. The Cubs are 5-11 in their last 16 home games against a LH starter which bodes well for the Mets pitcher who has allowed 2 ER or less in three of his last five starts.
Chicago Ready for the Break
Willson Contreras and Ian Happ have both made the All-Star game for the Cubs, but the rest of the team seems ready for some time off. Chicago’s losing streak has reached 9 games – and it’s not even their longest of the season after dropping 10 in a row in early June.
To be fair Chicago’s losing streak has come against the Dodgers, the red hot Orioles, and the 1st place Mets, but that doesn’t instill a lot of confidence heading into the July 17th Mets at Cubs betting matchup. The North Siders have scored a whopping 4 runs so far in the three game series, a big reason why Sunday’s run total is just 7.5.
Adrian Sampson (0-1, 3.33 ERA) will try to send the Cubs into the break on a high note, making just his 5th start of the season. Sampson took the loss on Tuesday after allowing 3ER over 5.1 IP in a 4-2 loss to the Orioles.
Free July 17th Mets at Cubs Betting Pick
I don’t know how you can back the Cubs in this spot. They have minimal value at +124 considering they are 17-41 in their last 58 at home. New York had struggled going 6-19 in their previous 25 games at Wrigley Field prior to this series, but they’ve put that trend to bed this weekend.
Free Pick: Mets -146
