Mets vs Cubs Baseball Handicapping

The New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Wrigley Field. The Mets will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Bobby Parnell in this game. Parnell has a 1-3 record and a 8.82 ERA this season. It'll be Ryan Dempster toeing the rubber for the Cubs in this contest. Righthander Dempster is 7-7 with a 4.07 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Cubs listed as 250-moneyline favorites versus the Mets, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Cubs scored four runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Mets 5-2 in the opener of a three-game set on Friday, as -260 favorites. That game's seven runs went UNDER the day's posted over/under (8.5). Alfonso Soriano led the way for the Mets with a three-run homer. Kevin Gregg earned the win in relief, and Carlos Marmol closed out the ninth for his sixth save. Fernando Tatis and Omir Santos drove in the runs for the Mets, who were +230 underdogs. Brian Stokes gave up four runs in relief and was saddled with the loss. Team records: New York: 58-71 SU Chicago: 64-62 SU New York most recently: When playing on Saturday are 7-3 Before playing Chi Cubs are 4-6 After playing Chi Cubs are 5-5 After a loss are 5-5 Chicago most recently: When playing on Saturday are 7-3 Before playing NY Mets are 6-4 After playing NY Mets are 5-5 After a win are 2-8 A few trends to consider: NY Mets are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing Chi Cubs NY Mets are 3-8 SU in its last 11 games on the road NY Mets are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs NY Mets are 1-6 SU in its last 7 games Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against NY Mets Chi Cubs are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing NY Mets Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games at home Chi Cubs are 6-12 SU in their last 18 games Next up: Chi Cubs home to NY Mets, Sunday, August 30