The New York Mets will take on the Chicago Cubs for a three-game series at Wrigley Field amid an eight-game losing streak.
The New York Mets have lost eight straight games ahead of its series opener against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
One more loss would mark the longest losing streak for the Mets since 2004, a streak the team is obviously trying to avoid.
“We’re not playing good baseball right now,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. “We got to get going here, it’s not a good feeling right now.”
Mendoza and the organization are frustrated with how the team is performing as of late, specifically on offense. The Mets have been outscored 44-12 during its skid and have been shutout three times. The pitching staff has given the team a chance to win in most games this year, not just during the losing streak, but it may be difficult to keep the ball in the ballpark during the first game against the Cubs.
Friday’s game will feel like summer at Wrigley, with warm temperatures and 20 miles per hour winds blowing out. However, it’ll be a lot colder during the second and third games on Saturday and Sunday, likely limiting slug over the weekend.
Mets right-hander Kodai Senga will go toe-to-toe with Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera in the opener.
Senga will have his hands full against a Cubs offense that has found some life over the last few games after struggling to begin the season. He was great his first two times out against the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants, allowing two runs in each start while working into the sixth inning and striking out 16 total batters.
Senga’s last start inflated his ERA tremendously after allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 2.1 innings against the Athletics. He will face the following lineup:
1. Nico Hoerner (2B)
2. Michael Busch (1B)
3. Alex Bregman (3B)
4. Ian Happ (LF)
5. Seiya Suzuki (RF)
6. Moises Ballesteros (DH)
7. Carson Kelly (C)
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF)
9. Dansby Swanson (SS)
Hoerner has had an incredible start to the season, hitting two home runs with 18 RBI and a slash line of .324/.410/.507 (.917 OPS). Ballesteros is swinging a hot bat as well, batting .342 (13-for-38).
The Mets will take on Cabrera, who has been quite good for Chicago during his first season with the club. He is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through 16.2 innings. Cabrera has been hard to hit, allowing one hit against the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians, but he will get into deep counts and walk batters. He will take on this new-look Mets lineup:
1. Carson Benge (RF)
2. Bo Bichette (3B)
3. Francisco Lindor (SS)
4. Luis Robert Jr. (CF)
5. Francisco Alvarez (C)
6. MJ Melendez (DH)
7. Marcus Semien (2B)
8. Brett Baty (1B)
9. Tyrone Taylor (LF)
Melendez is getting a look with the big league club with injuries to left fielder Juan Soto and infielder Jorge Polanco. Melendez went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his first appearance with the team. This is an important stretch for Baty, who has been a utilityman this season and off to a slow start offensively despite driving in seven runs.
First pitch is at 2:20 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.