Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets Predictions, Betting Odds & Picks

Garcia’s 2021 record: (27-20-2)

How to Watch Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets

Mets Continue to Have the Pitching Advantage

The Mets have been winning this season because of stand-out pitching and they have the advantage in that category once again on Tuesday. New York has given up the fewest runs to its opponent of any team in baseball.

Taijuan Walker will toe the slab for the Metropolitans and looks to build on a season where he’s been a pleasant surprise in the Big Apple.

Walker is 5-2 and ranks seventh in the MLB in ERA 2.07) and is in the top 25 with a 1.03 WHIP. Walker has given up two runs or fewer in nine of 11 starts this season.

On the other side, Alec Mills enters with a 2-0 record but his numbers don’t back that up. He’s making just his second start on the season and hadn’t been great out of the bullpen — the 29-year-old righty has a 6.08 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and has gone more than three innings just once all year.

He’s also struggled with his location in his last three appearances, walking two batters in each.

Cubs Offense Needs to Find a Way

We just talked about how the Mets have one of the best pitching staffs and fortunately for the Cubs, they have one of the best offenses.

Just nine other teams have scored at least 300 runs this year and for Chicago, it’s because production is coming from all over the lineup in small part, but it’s also because all of the familiar faces are doing damage.

The four main faces from the 2016 World Series team that remain — Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, Anthony Rizzo, and Javy Baez — are the four-team leaders in WAR. Combined the four have been seven wins above replacement and their production just keeps coming.

Rizzo is hitting .300 the last week with two home runs and seven RBIs. Kris Bryant has been on base more than any other Cub this year. Baez leads the team in home runs (14) and RBIs (40) while Contreras has the third most home runs of any catcher and second most RBIs.

Chicago has been great offensively this year, but it might not come so easily against Walker on Tuesday.

X-Factor to Watch on Both Sides

We mentioned the Mets dominance while in the field, but lately, their offense has shown more signs of life.

That’s in no small part thanks to Billy McKinney’s recent production. The Mets’ outfielder is hitting .500 (5-of-10) the last week with two home runs and six RBIs.

For Chicago, we’re going to keep our eye on the red hot Joc Pederson. The power-hitting lefty is batting .318 the last week with three home runs and five RBIs. Chicago hopes that’s a sign of things to come and that he finds his swing from May when he hit .314.