The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, both battling injuries and inconsistency, meet at Wrigley Field in a matchup between two struggling NL teams. Let’s leverage AI models, analyze team trends, and consider injuries to make the most informed prediction for this intriguing encounter.
AI Model Consensus:
- BetQL: Chicago Cubs -1.5
- ESPN: Chicago Cubs -1.7
- SportsLine: Chicago Cubs -1.8
- FanDuel: Chicago Cubs -1.35 (moneyline)
- FOX Sports: Chicago Cubs (61.4% win probability)
The AI models favor the Cubs by an average of -1.65 runs. This might reflect the Cubs’ home-field advantage and the Mets’ significant pitching staff injuries.
Injury Report:
- New York Mets: The Mets are missing key starting pitchers like Kodai Senga and Shintaro Fujinami. The status of catcher Luis Torrens (personal) is also uncertain. This strains their pitching depth.
- Chicago Cubs: The Cubs’ injury list is lengthy as well, but they might be slightly healthier on the pitching side with key players potentially returning.
Trend Watch:
Recent performance matters most:
- New York Mets: The Mets have won seven out of their last eight games despite the injuries.
- Chicago Cubs: The Cubs have lost two out of their last five games.
Recent News:
Both teams are desperate to get back on track and overcome their injury woes. The Cubs hope to continue their recent winning streak, while the Mets look to snap their losing skid.
Considering all factors, our predicted score is:
Chicago Cubs 5 – New York Mets 3
Reasoning:
- The Cubs’ potentially healthier pitching staff could give them an edge, especially against the Mets’ depleted lineup.
- The point spread (-1.65) favoring the Cubs seems fair considering the injuries on both sides.
- The total score (8 runs) might be slightly high if both teams’ offensive struggles.
Beyond the Numbers:
While the Cubs have the home-field advantage, the Mets’ recent winning streak and Carrasco’s experience can’t be ignored. This could be a closer game than the AI models predict.
Pick: Take the Chicago Cubs -1.5 points spread. ***LOSE***
