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Mets host Cubs on Friday night
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 7/1/2016  at  12:12:00 PM
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CHICAGO CUBS (51-27)

at NEW YORK METS (41-37)

First pitch: Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET
Line: Chicago -105, New York -105, Total: 7.0

The Mets will be looking to win their second consecutive game versus the Cubs on Friday.

Chicago had won three straight games heading into Thursday’s meeting with New York, but the Mets came away with a 4-3 victory in that one. The Mets badly needed that win, as they had previously lost four straight games. Although New York came away with the win, the team only racked up six hits in the game. The Mets will need to do a better job than that moving forward. They have gotten over eight hits in just one of their past 13 games. The starters for this game are set to be RHP Jason Hammel (7-4, 2.58 ERA, 70 K) for Chicago and RHP Jacob deGrom (3-4, 2.67 ERA, 77 K) for New York. The Cubs are 36-15 against the money line on the road with a line of -100 to -150 over the past two seasons. The Mets, however, are 35-14 against the money line at home with a line of -100 to -150 over the past two seasons, so something is going to change for one of these two teams. Although New York won the first game of this series, the two clubs have split victories over the past three seasons.

Jason Hammel is getting the start for Chicago on Friday and he should be feeling pretty good coming into this one. Hammel is coming off of a solid outing against the Marlins on Jun. 26, allowing just two earned runs in six innings of work in that one. One thing really working for Hammel is his control. He has walked just three batters over the past four games and it’d be huge if he can avoid giving the Mets free baserunners in this one. Offensively, one guy who will be looking forward to this matchup is 1B Anthony Rizzo (.284, 19 HR, 58 RBI). In his career against deGrom, Rizzo is 3-for-9 with a homer and two RBI. The Cubs can use his power in this one, and they’ll also be counting on 3B Kris Bryant (.279, 22 HR, 60 RBI). Bryant has been on a tear for Chicago recently, racking up five homers and 11 RBI over the past seven games. He is also 1-for-2 with a homer and two RBI in his short sample size against deGrom.

Jacob deGrom has had a good year for the Mets, but the team has not provided him with much run support. He has allowed three or less earned runs in five straight starts, but New York has only earned a victory in one of those outings. His last start was, however, an absolute gem. DeGrom pitched eight innings of shutout ball against the Braves on Jun. 25, striking out six batters and walking just one. He’ll be hoping to have something close to that performance on Friday, but it won’t be easy against a dangerous Cubs lineup. Offensively, three guys that could help the Mets in this one are 1B James Loney (.283, 3 HR, 10 RBI), OF Curtis Granderson (.228, 13 HR, 22 RBI) and 2B Kelly Johnson (.235, 3 HR, 13 RBI). It’s not a guarantee that all three will be in the lineup, but the three of them are a combined 29-for-92 with seven homers and 19 RBI. OF Yoenis Cespedes (.288, 19 HR, 46 RBI) will also be a presence in this game. He hit an absolute bomb on Thursday and should have a ton of confidence coming into this one.


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