mets vs cubs opens Friday at Wrigley Field with the New York Mets arriving on an eight-game losing streak and the Chicago Cubs coming in after a series victory over Philadelphia. The Mets have been outscored 44-12 during the skid, while the Cubs have won three of their last four and have been swinging one of the hotter bats in the game over the past week. First pitch for this mets vs cubs matchup is set for Friday, April 17, with Chicago listed as the favorite.
Chicago brings momentum into Mets Vs Cubs
The Cubs have not just been winning; they have been producing at the plate. Over the last seven days, Chicago is hitting. 292, which ranks third-best, and the club is tied 10th with 40 RBI over that span. That surge follows a series win over Philadelphia and gives Chicago a clear edge in recent form entering mets vs cubs.
New York, by contrast, has been stuck in a deep slump. The Mets rank last in the majors with a. 169 batting average over the last seven days and have hit only four home runs in that stretch. In seven of their eight straight losses, they have scored two runs or fewer, a sign that the lineup has not found a way to break through consistently.
Pitching matchup sets the tone
Friday’s pitching matchup pairs Kodai Senga for New York against Edward Cabrera for Chicago. Senga enters with a 0-2 record, a 7. 07 ERA, 1. 71 WHIP, 19 strikeouts and seven walks over 14. 0 innings in 2026. Cabrera has opened the season at 1-0 with a 1. 62 ERA, 1. 14 WHIP, 13 strikeouts and nine walks across 16. 2 innings.
The numbers only sharpen the contrast in mets vs cubs. The Mets’ recent stretch has also included 44 earned runs allowed in 69 innings, leaving the pitching staff under pressure to steady the game early and prevent Chicago from building on its current run.
Key bats and immediate reaction
For New York, Francisco Alvarez has been one of the few bright spots, hitting. 271 with 13 hits, 26 total bases and four home runs in 48 at-bats. Francisco Lindor is at. 184 with 14 hits, 16 strikeouts and 10 walks in 76 at-bats. Chicago counters with Nico Hoerner, who is hitting. 324 with 23 hits, 36 total bases and 18 RBIs in 71 at-bats, while Michael Busch is at. 148 with nine hits, 14 strikeouts and nine walks in 61 at-bats.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was blunt after the latest loss, saying: “Guys have got to start playing better. It’s as simple as that. They’re too talented. But right now, we’re not seeing anything on the field. ” His comment captures the urgency around mets vs cubs as New York tries to stop the slide.
What the series shape suggests
The context around this series is straightforward: Chicago is returning home with momentum, while New York is trying to stop a losing streak that has dragged down both its offense and pitching. The Cubs also have recent home-field rhythm on their side after a strong stretch against Philadelphia and earlier signs of life in a come-from-behind win over Pittsburgh.
With the betting market favoring Chicago at -150 on the moneyline and the Cubs set to open the three-game set at Wrigley Field, mets vs cubs now turns on whether New York can produce enough offense to make Friday competitive. If the Mets cannot correct the scoring drought quickly, the pressure will only grow as the series moves forward.
