The New York Mets will take on the Chicago Cubs after dropping the final two games of their series with the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend.
Every time it appears that the New York Mets are starting to generate some momentum with a series win, the team drops its next series and looks completely different than how it did in the prior series.
The Mets entered June on a four-game winning streak but have alternated series wins since then and lost its last two series against the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies. New York won the series opener against the Phillies but were blown out 15-3 in the middle game before dropping the finale 6-2.
Philadelphia took an early 5-0 lead by the second inning, and the Mets didn’t have much of an answer for right-hander Zack Wheeler or slugger Kyle Schwarber, who hit four home runs in the series including a three-run blast that put the rubber match out of reach.
Wheeler pitched into the sixth inning, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven to earn his seventh win of the year. He outdueled Mets lefty David Peterson, who completed four innings and surrendered four runs on six hits and two walks while fanning five.
New York’s outfield has been producing but needs more consistent production from the rest of the lineup.
Infielder Bo Bichette was heating up but collected just one hit in this series, so look for him to get back on track during the upcoming four-game series against the Chicago Cubs, which swept the Mets back in April.
Game 1 of the series will feature a pitching matchup between Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga and Mets righty Kodai Senga.
Imanaga had a great start to the season but had a rough four-game stretch before getting back on track with two good outings against the Colorado Rockies. He is 4-6 with a 4.26 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 84 strikeouts to 22 walks while allowing 17 home runs through 15 starts (86.2 innings).
The former All-Star last threw 5.2 innings against the Rockies and allowed one run on five hits and one walk while punching out three.
Senga has struggled mightily in limited appearances this season, going 0-5 with a 9.00 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 28 strikeouts to 17 walks through six starts (24 innings). He last faced the Reds and allowed four runs on two hits and four walks while fanning five.
Senga allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 3.1 innings against the Cubs on April 17.
First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
UPDATE: Tonight's game has been postponed due to weather and will be played Wednesday as a split doubleheader.
