Jun 19, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
- The New York Mets (35-38) visit the Chicago Cubs (36-39) for the first game of a 3-game weekend series between a pair of 4th-place teams.
- Shota Imanaga (7-1, 1.89 ERA) gets the start for the Cubs against José Quintana (2-5, 4.98 ERA) of the Mets.
- Check out the section below for our top picks from this afternoon’s MLB action.
It’s time for some afternoon baseball at Wrigley Field as the Cubs and Mets square off in a matinee showcase. Shota Imanaga will try to stymie the Mets, who are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Former Cub José Quintana gets the start for New York. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:20 p.m. ET and can be seen on the MLB Network.
New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs Picks
- Cubs -1.5 (+135)
- Dansby Swanson 2+ total bases (+160)
With Shota Imanaga on the mound, I expect the Cubs to dominate this game. Imanaga has been one of the best pitchers in the National League this year and has a microscopic 1.89 ERA. Even with the Mets riding high over their last 10 games, I like the Cubs in this one. Over at bet365, you can find the Cubs to win by 2+ runs for +135 odds. That’s pretty good value considering the disparity in the starting pitchers.
I also like Dansby Swanson to have a strong showing this afternoon at home. He has hit Quintana well in his career, going 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles. I expect him to be at his best again today. He homered in each of his last 2 games (Tuesday and Wednesday against the Giants), so he’s swinging a hot bat right now. Quintana won’t be able to do much to slow him down. Swanson to record 2+ total bases is at +160 on bet365.
New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Mets | +1.5 (-160) | +125 | O 8.0 (-120) |
| Chicago Cubs | -1.5 (+135) | -150 | U 8.0 (+100) |
Odds via bet365 as of June 21. Sign up for bet365 today using promo code SBDXLM and you’ll score a first-bet safety net of up to $1,000 or $150 in bonus bets when you place an initial wager of at least $5.
As detailed above, I love the Cubs spread of -1.5 at +135 odds. I think this will be a lopsided win for Chicago behind ace Shota Imanaga. If you think the Mets will win, there’s value to pick New York on the moneyline at +125 odds. The Cubs are -150 to win. The run total is set at over/under 8.0, with -120 odds on the over and +100 odds on the under.
New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs Starting Pitchers
| José Quintana | VS | Shota Imanaga |
|---|---|---|
| 2-5 | Record | 7-1 |
| 4.98 | ERA | 1.89 |
| 16.0% | SO% | 25.8% |
As I discussed at the top, this is quite the disparity between starting pitchers. Imanaga has been great so far in 2024. Quintana … not so much. Quintana’s ERA is more than 3 full runs per 9 innings higher than Imanaga’s.
Imanaga does a good job of keeping free passes to a minimum. He’s struck out 78 batters and walked only 11 in 76 innings of work so far in 2024. That’s a 7-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. Meanwhile, Quintana has struck out 50 and walked 25 over 72.1 innings.
When you put extra runners on base and don’t have great swing-and-miss stuff, it’s a recipe for disaster, as Quintana’s robust ERA shows. Meanwhile, Imanaga does sometimes allow home runs (he’s given up 7 this year), but he limits the damage by not having many extra runners on base.
Quintana pitched for the Cubs from 2017 to 2020, so maybe he can find some magic against his old team. He’s also coming off his best outing of the year, allowing only 1 run and striking out 6 in 6 innings of work against the Padres on June 15.
He’s going to need to be at his best again to give the Mets a chance against Imanaga. See who gets the job done at 2:20 p.m. ET today on the MLB Network.
Adam is an avid college sports fan, covering both football and basketball. During the summer months, he’s all-in on MLB action, favoring pitcher strikeout parlays.
The New York Mets will face off against the Chicago Cubs on June 21 in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, but they are both looking to come out on top in this game.
The Mets currently sit in third place in the National League East with a record of 35-30, while the Cubs are in first place in the National League Central with a record of 38-27. The Mets have been playing well as of late, winning seven of their last ten games, while the Cubs have been struggling, losing six of their last ten.
When it comes to pitching, the Mets will likely send Marcus Stroman to the mound, who has a 6-4 record with a 2.33 ERA. The Cubs will counter with Kyle Hendricks, who has a 9-4 record with a 4.13 ERA. Both pitchers have been solid this season, but Stroman has been slightly more consistent.
Offensively, the Mets have been led by Pete Alonso, who has 11 home runs and 34 RBIs on the season. The Cubs have been led by Kris Bryant, who has 13 home runs and 39 RBIs. Both teams have potent lineups that are capable of putting up runs in a hurry.
In terms of predictions, this game could go either way. The Mets have been playing well recently and have the advantage in pitching, but the Cubs have a strong lineup and are playing at home. It will likely come down to which team can execute better on both sides of the ball.
Overall, this should be a close and competitive game between two talented teams. It will be interesting to see how it plays out and which team comes out on top. Fans can expect a thrilling matchup between the Mets and Cubs on June 21.
