The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs were rained out on Monday and will play a split doubleheader with the Mets trailing the season series 4-0.
The New York Mets continued its prolonged funk with another big loss to the Chicago Cubs, although the score suggests the game was closer than it truly was.
The Mets lost 9-6, marking its fourth consecutive loss to the Cubs this season. It was a huge night for Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI, and former Mets farmhand center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and two walks.
Mets right-hander Kodai Senga struggled against Chicago for the second time this season, allowing seven runs on three hits and five walks while striking out six over 3.2 innings. Senga is now 0-6 with a 10.08 ERA through seven starts.
Cubs righty Edward Cabrera got the win and pitched five innings of two-run ball on three hits and four walks while fanning four but suffered a hamstring injury and was carted off after completing a fine play to end the fifth.
New York is falling further and further back from playoff contention with each loss, so earning at least a split in Wednesday’s doubleheader is critical. Game 1 will feature a pitching matchup between a couple of right-handers: Chicago’s Javier Assad and New York’s Nolan McLean.
Assad has pitched well in his short stint with the Cubs this season, posting a 5-1 record with a 3.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 25 strikeouts to nine walks through 11 games (five starts, 44 innings). He last worked against the Colorado Rockies and threw 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on five hits with one punchout.
Assad will take on the following Mets lineup:
1. Carson Benge (RF)
2. A.J. Ewing (CF)
3. Bo Bichette (SS)
4. Jared Young (1B)
5. Francisco Alvarez (DH)
6. Brett Baty (3B)
7. Marcus Semien (2B)
8. MJ Melendez (LF)
9. Luis Torrens (C)
Star left fielder Juan Soto exited Tuesday night’s game after four innings with left back tightness and is out of the lineup for at least the first game.
McLean pitched a nice game in his last outing after struggling with walks. The 24-year-old tossed seven innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits and one walk while sitting down nine against the Cincinnati Reds. He is 4-4 with a 3.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 97 strikeouts to 32 walks through 15 starts (83.1 innings) and will face the following Cubs lineup:
1. Crow-Armstrong (CF)
2. Michael Conforto (RF)
3. Michael Busch (1B)
4. Seiya Suzuki (DH)
5. Ian Happ (LF)
6. Nico Hoerner (2B)
7. Pedro Ramirez (3B)
8. Miguel Amaya (C)
9. Swanson (SS)
First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
A pair of southpaws will toe the rubber for Game 2 – Shota Imanaga, who was supposed to pitch in the opener, and Sean Manaea.
Imanaga is 4-6 with a 4.26 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 84 strikeouts to 22 walks with 17 home runs allowed through 15 starts (86.2 innings). He is coming off two great starts against the Colorado Rockies in which he allowed just one total run and no home runs.
Manaea is back in the starting rotation and has been excellent for the Mets during his two starts. He is 1-2 with a 4.64 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 56 strikeouts to 18 walks through 16 appearances (54.1 innings). Against the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, he combined to pitch 11.1 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and one walk while striking out 11.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor will make his return to the lineup during the second game, per The Athletic's Will Sammon. He has been out since April 22 with a strained left calf.
First pitch is at 7:10 on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
