Monday, July 18, 2016

Wrigley Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Steven Matz vs. Jon Lester

The New York Mets visit Wrigley Field on Monday to play the Chicago Cubs. The probable starters are Steven Matz for the Mets and Jon Lester for the Cubs. The opening line for this matchup has New York at +156 and Chicago at -166. The over/under was set at 8. The Mets have a 39-49-2 over/under record and a 37-53-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 41% of the time. The Cubs are 47-43-0 against the run line and have a 46-40-4 over/under record. They cover the spread 52% of the time.

The Mets head into this matchup with a 48-42 record, including 22-22 on the road. Starting pitcher Steven Matz has a 7-5 record with an earned run average of 3.38 and a WHIP of 1.23. He has 90 strikeouts over his 96 innings pitched and he has given up 95 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.9 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.43. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.21 and they have given up 231 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .222 against the bullpen while being struck out 290 times and walking 102 times this season. As a team, New York has allowed 8.55 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.59 batters per nine. They are 3rd in the league in team earned run average at 3.37. The Mets pitchers have collectively given up 759 base hits and 298 earned runs. They have allowed 81 home runs this season and they allow 0.9 homers per nine innings as a staff. New York as a pitching staff has walked 229 batters and struck out 764. They walk 2.6 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.6 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.23 and their FIP as a unit is 3.50.

As a team, New York is batting .237, good for 29th in the league while putting together a .242 average away from home. The Mets hold a .414 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .310 which is good for 24th in baseball. They rank 30th in baseball with 7.87 hits per game. Asdrubal Cabrera comes into this game hitting .267 and his on-base percentage is at .323. He has 87 hits this season along with 38 runs scored and 29 runs batted in. He's struck out 68 times and has walked 21 times. Yoenis Cespedes is hitting .302 and he has an on-base percentage of .372. He has totaled 87 hits so far while scoring 47 runs and he's driven in 52. He has walked 31 times and has struck out 77 times. The Mets have 708 hits, including 137 doubles and 124 home runs. They've stolen 20 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 11 times. New York has walked 287 times this season and they've struck out 770 times as a unit. They've left 616 men on base and have a team OPS of .724. They score 3.8 runs per contest and have scored a total of 342 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 28-14 home record and a 55-35 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.01, Jon Lester has a 9-4 record and a 1.08 WHIP. He has 108 strikeouts over the 110.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 92 hits. He has allowed 7.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.97. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.75 and they have given up 204 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .209 against the Cubs bullpen while being struck out 268 times and walking 112 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 7.02 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.84 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 3.25. The Cubs pitchers as a team have surrendered 635 base knocks and 297 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 92 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 278 hitters and struck out 797. They give up a walk 3.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.8 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.13 while their FIP as a staff is 3.85.

As a team, they are batting .254, good for 15th in the league while putting together a .240 average at home. The Cubs hold a .434 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .347 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 16th in baseball with 8.67 hits per contest. Anthony Rizzo comes into this matchup batting .297 and he has an OBP of .412. He has 94 hits this year along with 55 runs scored and 65 RBI. He's struck out 56 times and has walked on 50 occasions. Kris Bryant is hitting .282 and he has an OBP of .379. He has collected 95 hits so far while he's scored 74 runs and drove in 65. He has earned a walk 44 times and has punched out 90 times. The Cubs as a unit have 780 base hits, including 164 doubles and 120 homers. They have 34 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 19 times. Chicago as a team has walked 386 times this year and they have struck out 778 times. They've had 681 men left on base and have an OPS of .781. They score 5.21 runs per game and have totaled 469 runs so far this season.

New York Mets Betting Trends

The New York Mets are 39-49-2 against the over/under so far this season

The New York Mets are 37-53-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 46-40-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 47-43-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

New York Mets

07/16/16 CF Yoenis Cespedes Quad "?" Sunday vs. Philadelphia Phillies
07/15/16 P Noah Syndergaard Arm expected to start Tuesday vs. St. Louis Cardinals
07/06/16 P Matt Harvey Shoulder 15-day DL (7/6), out for season
06/22/16 P Jim Henderson Bicep 15-day DL (6/19)
06/03/16 3B David Wright Neck 60-day DL (5/30), out for season
05/24/16 1B Lucas Duda Back 15-day DL (5/21)
04/04/16 P Zack Wheeler Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Chicago Cubs

07/16/16 P Trevor Cahill Knee 15-day DL (7/9)
07/03/16 2B Chris Coghlan Ribs 15-day DL (7/3)
06/20/16 CF Dexter Fowler Hamstring 15-day DL (6/19)
06/07/16 LF Jorge Soler Hamstring 15-day DL (6/6)
05/18/16 P Joe Nathan Elbow 60-day DL (5/17)
04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee 60-day DL (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 60-day DL (2/25)

Guy's Pick: Take the Mets

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