It's time to continue our MLB odds series with a Mets-Cubs prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Mets Cubs.

The New York Mets have probably been the most volatile National League team. You might have seen or read that the Minnesota Twins are the streakiest team in baseball, and that's true. They're in the American League, so if there's a “most streaky National League team,” it's the Mets. They lost their first five games of the season. Then they won 12 of 15. Then they went through a few more cycles of surge and collapse. Right now, they're in another surge cycle, having won 8 of 10. They're 36-39 but have already had a 12-3 run in a 15-game stretch and an 8-2 record in a separate 10-game bundle. They're a really hard team to figure out unless you cite the Francisco Alvarez pair of statistics. The Mets are 20-3 since April 4 in games Alvarez plays at catcher. They are 17-31 in games without Alvarez, who has missed some time due to injuries. Alvarez's ability to manage the pitching staff has been an essential part of the Mets' winning formula, but the team has absolutely cratered in games without him in the lineup. It's scary to contemplate how essential one player is to a team, but that's where the Mets are.

The Chicago Cubs are right there with the Mets, just under .500 and trying to find some winning consistency. Chicago has good starting pitching, which makes the team's losing record and overall mediocre profile that much harder to stomach. The Cubs just don't have a lot of really good hitters. They have Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki, and not a whole lot else. Far too many rallies die at the hands of other hitters, and the Cubs — since the start of May — are the only team in Major League Baseball which has a batting average under .200 with runners in scoring position. That's crazy, but it's the reality for a team which is squandering a lot of pitching. The Cubs' bullpen has also been a disappointment, and all of this should lead to some trade deadline acquisitions in the Windy City.

Mets-Cubs Projected Starters 

Luis Severino vs. Javier Assad

Luis Severino (4-2) has a 3.52 ERA. Severino, formerly a member of the Yankees, has been a decent starting pitcher for the other New York team, but as you can see below, his last start was a disaster. Severino is a generally good pitcher, but he has clunkers, and when he does have clunkers, he completely falls off the rails. Can Severino be a little steadier? That's the challenge for him. Let's see if he can become an ace-level pitcher for the Mets in the summer while the team considers what to do at the trade deadline.

Last Start: Tuesday, June 18 versus the Texa Rangers: 6 1/3 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 HR, 1 BB, 1 K

2024 Road Splits: 6 starts, 37 IP, 33 H, 21 R, 3 HR, 12 BB, 26 K

Javier Assad (4-2) has a 2.75 ERA. He is one of several starting pitchers who have fundamentally done their job for the Cubs. Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Justin Steele are — along with Assad — very capable starters who give the Cubs a good starting rotation. That this group of pitchers exists on a sub-.500 team has to be infuriating for Chicago fans who are looking at the rest of a mediocre National League Central Division and are seeing the Cubs fail to separate from the pack and challenge the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead.

Last Start: Monday, June 17 versus the San Francisco Giants: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 2 BB, 7 K

2024 Home Splits: 7 starts, 37 1/3 IP, 29 H, 8 R, 2 HR, 18 BB, 35 K

Here are the Mets-Cubs MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Mets-Cubs Odds

New York Mets: -1.5 (+164)

Moneyline: -104

Chicago Cubs: +1.5 (-200)

Moneyline: -112

Over: 8 (-115)

Under: 8 (-105)

How to Watch Mets vs. Cubs

Time: 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

TV: ESPN

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Mets Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Cubs had a bad game on Friday and bounced back Saturday. The Mets had a bad game Saturday and should bounce back Sunday.

Why The Cubs Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Cubs finally started hitting on Saturday. That could carry over into this game.

Final Mets-Cubs Prediction & Pick

These are two mediocre teams. Stay away from this game.

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Final Mets-Cubs Prediction & Pick: Cubs +1.5