The City of Gotham will be rocking and rolling on Saturday night when the New York Mets welcome in Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs for a grudge match that will be taken in by the entire country in the Fox Game of the Week.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The Cubs were not going to play .800 ball the rest of the way. If you thought that, you’re an idiot. While Joe Maddon’s squad’s overall play has tapered off just a bit, Chicago is still one of the best bets in the league at 50 games up and 26 down for an overall return of investment of $515. After taking down the Reds in extras on Tuesday night to halt their series losing streak at two, the Cubbies moved to 10 games over .500 on the road where they’re averaging 5.7 runs per game for the season – No. 2 in baseball. They’re the first team in the NL to secure 50 wins and own a 10 game lead over the Cardinals atop the NL Central standings.
With a starting staff comprised of some of the best young arms in the game, the Mets routinely go off the betting board heavily favored. With that the case, it comes as no surprise to see Terry Collins’s squad down over $900 for the season with it sitting just four games over .500 after dropping two straight to the division rival Nationals. After closing that series out in D.C., the team will return home where it’s won 19 of 35 overall (-$668). NY now trails both Miami and the Nationals in the division standings and sits a half game out of the Wild Card slot.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
The legend that is Jake Arrieta continues to grow. Though Jake has put pedestrian numbers on the board in each of his last two starts, it hasn’t mattered. This guy is recognized throughout the league as a staff ace capable of winning his club a huge game every time he takes the bump. He still logged win no. 12 last time out even though he was tagged for 5 ER and a home run through just five innings against the Reds. The outing marked the second straight in which he failed to reach the sixth inning. He’s 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA and 0.89 WHIP through five career starts against the Mets.
I seriously have no clue how Bartolo Colon continues to do it. He’s 6-4 with a 2.86 ERA which is on par with the likes of Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. Those two are two of the youngest studs in the game - Bartolo’s 43! He’s allowed two or less earned runs in each of his last seven starts, and just dominated what’s been a recently hot Atlanta Braves team a start removed from leaving early after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand. New York is 9-6 in his 15 starts to date, and he’s been at his best at Citi Field where his ERA sits at 2.63 with a 33:7 K/BB ratio.
LIVE BETTING
This series has been circled in red Sharpie ink ever since the schedules were released. Rewind back to October of last season, and you’ll see the Mets shockingly sweeping the Cubs in the NLDS to advance to the World Series.
Arrieta was outdueled by Syndergaard in Game 2, and you know Jake has been foaming at the mouth getting himself ready for this venture back to the scene of the crime.
QUICK PICK
Chicago is going to be as square as they come in this one with Arrieta taking the bump in front of a nationally televised audience. Even with that the case, I can‘t help but put see the game through my Cubby Blue shades and expect nothing but a Chicago victory.
The Mets have been ravaged by the injury bug of late, and it simply hasn’t been able to push runs across the plate evidenced by the 3.4 runs per baseball game the team’s averaged over the last week. Colon is going to break down much like he did after running out of gas last season. Look for Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant to simply be too much for him to keep in check, and for the Cubs to exact a bit of revenge before turning their attention to getaway day.
MLB Odds: Cubs 6, Mets 1
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets is scheduled for Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Citi Field. The matchup will be televised regionally on FOX.
