NEWSLETTER
We’re well over half-way mark in the schedule (Sunday will mark game 90 for the Cubs), but we’re nearing the “half-way” mark in the calendar this weekend. These four games against the first-place Mets will be the final four games for the Cubs before the All-Star break.
After that, there are just TWO games at Wrigley Field before the trade deadline, so … keep that in mind with respect to seeing your favorite player in a Cubs uniform at Wrigley one last time.
We’re Going Streaking
The Chicago Cubs (34-52) have lost six in a row and are now 20 games under .500, one game out of a bottom-three record in MLB. The trade deadline looms.
The New York Mets just took a critical series against the Braves. Yesterday’s victory was the difference between a 0.5 game lead in the NL East or their current 2.5 game lead. Exciting stuff. For them.
Hot or Not and What to Watch
It’s another six-game hitting streak for Nico Hoerner, who’s slashing .304/.338/.427 (112 wRC+) for the season and .359/.400/.489 (147 wRC+) over his last 100 plate appearances.
Ian Happ was on base three times again last night (that’s 16x this season), and is on a nice little hot streak, himself, here since the end of June: .309/.387/.491 (147 wRC+). It’s nice to see him keep up the All-Star pace this season.
The strikeouts have been mounting a bit for Christopher Morel again lately, with 16Ks in his last 11 games. And it’s not going to get any easier against Mets pitching this weekend. The Cubs may want to protect him a little bit with their matchups.
Max Scherzer is now 10 starts into his 2022 season, and so far, he’s still Max Scherzer: 2.15 ERA, 79Ks, 11BBs. He has been allowing too many fly balls and a little more hard contact than usual, but good luck taking advantage when he’s got a 33.2 K% and 4.6 BB%. He’s Max Scherzer.
Starling Marte had been the Mets best hitter over the past month, but he’s out with an injury. The Mets offense is still strong top-to-bottom (well, besides catcher and DH … but you know that), but they’re a lot less dangerous without Marte.
Game Times and Broadcast Info
Pitching Probables
Game 1: Carlos Carrasco (R) vs. Keegan Thompson (R)
Game 2: Taijuan Walker (R) vs. Marcus Stroman (R)
Game 3: Max Scherzer (R) vs. Drew Smyly (L)
Game 4: David Peterson (L) vs. Adrian Sampson (R)
Chicago Cubs:
Injured/Unavailable: Nick Madrigal, Frank Schwindel, Jason Heyward, Wade Miley, Alec Mills, Kyle Hendricks, Adbert Alzolay, Brad Wieck, Codi Heuer, Manuel Rodriguez, Ethan Roberts
New York Mets:
Injured/Unavailable: James McCann, Joey Lucchesi, John Curtiss, Jacob deGrom, Trevor May, Sean Reid-Foley, Tyler Megill
By the Numbers
Run Differential:
Cubs: -77
Mets: +74
Runs Scored Per Game:
Cubs: 4.31
Mets: 4.73
Runs Allowed Per Game:
Cubs: 5.18
Mets: 3.90
