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The New York Mets take on the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Check out our MLB odds series for our Mets Cubs prediction and pick.
Max Scherzer gets the call for the Mets in the split-session doubleheader at Wrigley Field, while Drew Smyly goes against him for the Cubs.
Max Scherzer's year-long ERA is 2.15, but that's not the main thing you need to know about him right now. The key point with Scherzer is that since coming back from his extended injury layoff, he has looked great … in other words, like Max Scherzer. Would he be rusty? Would he need time to get back into a rhythm? Nope. He has pitched 13 innings and allowed one run since his return to the New York rotation. You might point out that Scherzer dominated the Cincinnati Reds in his first start back and claim that it doesn't mean much. Fine. Scherzer then handled the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves on the road in seven strong innings. That performance truly indicates Scherzer is back to his old self. That's all you really need to know.
Drew Smyly has a 4.43 ERA, but what is more alarming than that number is the fact that Smyly has pitched at least five full innings in only four of his 10 starts this season. He has pitched fewer than 45 innings for the year and has allowed 49 hits. He just doesn't go deep into games, which puts a strain on the Cubs' bullpen in a year when Chicago's starting rotation has been hit by injuries. The Mets are likely to face Smyly no more than twice. When the Mets go through their batting order a third time in this doubleheader nightcap, chances are the Cubs will have gone to their bullpen. If Smyly pitches to the Mets' batting order a third time, though, it will be a clear sign that he's on his game.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Mets-Cubs MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Mets-Cubs Odds
New York Mets: -1.5 (-122)
Chicago Cubs: +1.5 (+102)
Over: 7 (-104)
Under: 7 (-118)
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Why The Mets Could Cover the Spread
The Mets struggled on offense in Game 1 of this doubleheader. At the time this article was published, New York and Chicago were tied 1-1 in the seventh inning of the first half of this day-night double-dip. After scratching along in Game 1, the Mets' hitters, who have been resilient all year and have responded to bad games with good bounce-back performances, should be able to whack Drew Smyly.
Oh, and have we mentioned that Max Scherzer is pitching? Yeah. That's kind of important, right?
Why The Cubs Could Cover the Spread
After struggling on offense in Game 1, maybe the Cubs will take a break between games, get a good meal to refuel, and can do what the Reds and Braves did not do: Bother Max Scherzer. While Scherzer has earned a lot of trust, simply remember that this is baseball. In one baseball game, anything can happen. Look at the Giants getting six runs and three homers off Milwaukee closer Josh Hader Friday night. Look at the Kansas City Royals, without 11 regular players or pitchers, beating the Blue Jays in Toronto on Thursday. One game, one moment. You never know what will happen.
Final Mets-Cubs Prediction & Pick
You do never know what will happen in one baseball game, but Scherzer versus Smyly and Mets versus Cubs are both lopsided matchups. Don't overthink this.
Final Mets-Cubs Prediction & Pick: Mets -1.5
