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The Chicago Cubs visit the New York Mets on Monday night at Citi Field, with first pitch set for 7:10 PM ET on SNY and Marquee Sports Network. Chicago comes in at 40-37 and third in the NL Central, while New York is 34-43 and fifth in the NL East. The Cubs have been better lately, winning six of their last 10, but they are coming off a blown 5-0 lead in an 8-6 loss to Toronto.
The Mets enter on a two-game losing streak after dropping back-to-back games to the Phillies by a combined score of 21-5. Their rotation is the biggest issue, and this matchup does not give them much breathing room. Kodai Senga is still trying to find his form after injury trouble, while the Cubs get Shota Imanaga in a spot where the pitching matchup clearly favors Chicago.
Imanaga starts for the Cubs with a 4-6 record, 4.26 ERA, and 84 strikeouts. Senga counters for the Mets at 0-5 with a 9.00 ERA and 28 strikeouts. The weather adds some uncertainty, with light rain in the forecast around first pitch. That could affect game flow, but the handicap still starts with Chicago’s lineup patience against a Mets starter who has not been sharp. This is one of the more interesting games on the Monday MLB previews board.
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Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets Odds
These are the current betting lines for Cubs vs Mets, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before placing a wager.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | -112 | -1.5 (+146) | O 8.5 (-115) |
| New York Mets | -104 | +1.5 (-179) | U 8.5 (-105) |
Chicago Cubs Betting Form
The Cubs are not fixed, but the offense has shown more life. They beat Toronto 16-2 on Friday before losing 8-6 on Saturday, and Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to drive the recent surge. He has hit safely in eight straight games and has been one of Chicago’s most important bats during this homestand. You can follow more of the Chicago Cubs stats and results as they start this four-game set in New York.
Chicago’s offensive profile matches up well with Senga’s current issues. The Cubs rank near the top of MLB in on-base percentage and walks, and that matters against a pitcher fighting command and rhythm. Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, Carson Kelly, and Matt Shaw can force Senga to work from the stretch if they stay patient.
Imanaga is not having a dominant season, but he gives Chicago the cleaner starter profile. His last outing against Colorado was steady, with one run allowed over 5 2/3 innings. The concern is his career history against the Mets, but this New York lineup is not whole, and the Mets’ recent form gives Imanaga a reasonable path to five or six useful innings.
New York Mets Betting Form
The Mets are hard to trust right now. They have allowed 21 runs over their last two games, and the rotation has become a weekly problem. The lineup still has talent, but the team is not getting enough stable pitching to build momentum. The New York Mets schedule and stats show a club that is running out of margin in the NL East.
Senga is the biggest concern in this matchup. A 9.00 ERA is not just a rough patch, especially after an injury absence and another shaky return start. He still has the stuff to miss bats when the ghost fork is right, but his command and consistency have not been there. Against a Cubs lineup that walks and grinds at-bats, that is a bad mix.
New York can still make this competitive if Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Marcus Semien, Mark Vientos, Francisco Alvarez, and Brett Baty produce early. Francisco Lindor is getting closer to returning, but he is not expected to solve Monday’s pitching problem. The Mets need Senga to keep them out of the bullpen early, because the relief group has already been under stress.
Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets Matchup Breakdown
The starting pitcher edge belongs to Chicago. Imanaga’s 4.26 ERA is not special, but it is much easier to trust than Senga’s 9.00. In a near pick’em market, that gap matters. The Cubs do not need Imanaga to dominate. They just need him to be steadier than Senga.
The lineup edge also leans Cubs. Chicago has been inconsistent, but the walk rate gives it a real advantage against a starter trying to rediscover command. The Mets have the bigger individual bat in Soto, yet the full lineup is thin with Lindor, Luis Robert Jr., Tyrone Taylor, Jorge Polanco, and others unavailable.
The bullpen picture is messy on both sides. Chicago just lost a late lead against Toronto after the relief group got hit hard, and the Cubs are missing Daniel Palencia, Porter Hodge, Hunter Harvey, Shelby Miller, and other arms. New York’s bullpen also has injury issues, and the starters behind Nolan McLean have not been giving the Mets much length. That is why the total has Over appeal despite the rain risk.
From an MLB betting guide perspective, this is a game where the pitching matchup and market price line up. Chicago is not a perfect road favorite, but Senga’s current form makes the Cubs the more attractive side at a short number.
Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Cubs moneyline at -112. This is not about Chicago being a powerhouse. It is about the Cubs having the better starter, the better on-base profile, and the better current lineup structure against a Mets team searching for reliable pitching.
The Mets are tempting because the price is close to even and Citi Field can play pitcher-friendly if the weather stays damp. But Senga has not shown enough to justify backing New York here. If he walks hitters or falls behind early, Chicago has the patience to turn this into another short start for the Mets.
The total at 8.5 leans Over. Both bullpens have injury concerns, Senga has been hittable, and Chicago’s recent games have opened up late. The rain risk is the only reason I would not make the Over the top play. A delay or damp conditions can change offensive rhythm quickly. My projection lands around Cubs 5, Mets 4.
If you are comparing this matchup with the rest of today’s MLB picks, Cubs moneyline is the best value. It backs the cleaner starter and the lineup better equipped to exploit the opponent’s main weakness.
Best Bet: Cubs Moneyline -112.
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MLB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
MLB betting is about finding the market where the matchup edge is still affordable. Cubs vs Mets fits that idea because Chicago is only a short favorite despite having the more trustworthy starter and the more disciplined lineup.
ScoresAndStats helps bettors compare top sports handicappers, check transparent results on the handicapper leaderboard, and see which experts are finding value across the full baseball board.
For bettors building a Monday card, premium MLB picks can help sort through moneylines, run lines, totals, props, and first five inning markets. Baseball creates plenty of near-even prices, but the edge often comes from identifying which starter is more likely to give his team a clean first half.
