Chicago Cubs (69-61) at NY Mets (67-63)
When: Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Where: Citi Field,
New York, NY
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Chicago -107/8.5
Two National League wild card contenders who have gone cold will open a three-game series Tuesday night at Citi Field as the Chicago Cubs visit the New York Mets with Yu Darvish opposing Marcus Stroman. Both teams were swept at home over the weekend and failed to take advantage of improving their wild card standing. Chicago dropped three versus Washington and were outscored 23-10 in the process but kept their slim lead in the NL wild card while falling four behind the Nationals for the top spot. Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo did not play Sunday after exiting Saturday’s contest with tightness in his back. Chicago takes their 25-39 road record to the Big Apple to oppose a Mets team who was red-hot until getting swept by the first place Atlanta Braves. New York went on a 21-5 run to get into contention but scored only seven runs in getting swept by visiting Atlanta to remain two games behind Chicago. Jeff McNeil went 6-for-14 with a homer and six RBI in a four-game set at the Cubs in June while Pete Alonso clubbed three homers as the teams split. Tuesday’s series opener will be on MLB Network.
Pitchers: Cubs – Yu Darvish (4-6, 4.43 ERA) | Mets – Marcus Stroman (7-11, 3.18)
Darvish has been up and down all season and is coming off one of his worst outings, allowing seven runs over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus San Francisco last Wednesday. He has three scoreless outings over his last 10 starts but has also surrendered four runs or more five times in that stretch. Darvish allowed four runs over six innings versus the Mets on June 21st.
Stroman threw 62 pitches last time out before leaving the game due to tightness in his left hamstring. The Cleveland Indians managed just one run in his four innings of work in a game the Mets went on to win 4-3. Since coming over from Toronto, Stroman is 1-0 with 4.58 ERA over four starts. He threw a complete game shutout against the Cubs way back in 2014 as a member of the Blue Jays.
It’s really hard to trust Darvish wherever he’s pitching but the Cubs are just 3-10 when he starts on the road. Stroman hasn’t been overly impressive but the Mets have won all four of his starts. I’ll take the home team here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Tuesday. He is 116-80 +2413 units on the season after a 17-7 run!
Pick: Mets -108
BETTING TRENDS:
Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 12-26 in their last 38 road games.
Cubs are 5-11 in their last 16 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 4-10 in their last 14 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 2-8 in their last 10 Tuesday games.
Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 games following a loss.
Cubs are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 0-6 in their last 6 vs. National League East.
Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 1-4 in Darvish’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Cubs are 1-4 in Darvish’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 1-4 in Darvish’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 1-4 in Darvish’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 1-6 in Darvish’s last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
Cubs are 0-5 in Darvish’s last 5 road starts.
Cubs are 0-4 in Darvish’s last 4 starts vs. National League East.
Cubs are 0-4 in Darvish’s last 4 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 0-4 in Darvish’s last 4 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Mets are 6-1 in their last 7 Tuesday games.
Mets are 11-2 in their last 13 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Mets are 11-2 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Mets are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. National League Central.
Mets are 5-1 in their last 6 games following an off day.
Mets are 24-5 in their last 29 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Mets are 14-4 in their last 18 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Mets are 13-4 in their last 17 home games.
Mets are 16-5 in their last 21 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Mets are 21-8 in their last 29 overall.
Mets are 21-8 in their last 29 games on grass.
Mets are 7-3 in their last 10 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Mets are 4-0 in Stroman’s last 4 starts.
Mets are 4-0 in Stroman’s last 4 starts on grass.
Over is 4-0-1 in Cubs last 5 vs. National League East.
Under is 6-1 in Cubs last 7 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 13-3 in Cubs last 16 games following an off day.
Over is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 7-2 in Cubs last 9 Tuesday games.
Under is 10-3-2 in Cubs last 15 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 10-3-1 in Cubs last 14 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 overall.
Over is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 on grass.
Over is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 6-2-1 in Cubs last 9 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 7-3 in Cubs last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 11-5-1 in Cubs last 17 road games.
Over is 11-5 in Cubs last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 3-0-1 in Darvish’s last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 4-0 in Darvish’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 7-2 in Darvish’s last 9 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Darvish’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Darvish’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0-2 in Mets last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Mets last 4 vs. National League Central.
Under is 6-1 in Mets last 7 Tuesday games.
Over is 5-1-2 in Mets last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Under is 4-1 in Mets last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Mets last 5 on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Mets last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1 in Mets last 5 home games.
Under is 4-1 in Mets last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Mets last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 16-6-4 in Mets last 26 games following an off day.
Over is 5-2-2 in Mets last 9 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in New York.
Cubs are 11-3 in the last 14 meetings.
Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.
