Cubs vs Mets Prediction - MLB Picks 8/8/23

New York Mets (50-61) vs Chicago Cubs (58-54)

Game Info: Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 7:10 pm (Citi Field)

Carlos Carrasco (3-6) (6.60) vs Jameson Taillon (6-6) (5.27)

Betting Odds: New York Mets -105 / Chicago Cubs -120 --- Over/Under: 9.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Chicago Cubs will head to Queens to kick off a three-game set with the New York Mets this Tuesday from Citi Field on SNY. New York overpowered Chicago in game one and won by nine, 11-2.

Cubs Preview & Projected Starter

Chicago comes in at 58-55 after falling to New York. The Cubs began a second straight series with a blowout defeat, and they’ll look to turn things around on Tuesday. The Chicago offense is scoring 4.12 runs per game, while batting .243, with a .323 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.18 ERA, with a 1.28 WHIP.

Jameson Taillon (5-6, 5.46 ERA, 77 Ks) will get the ball for Chicago. The eighth-year pitcher opened August with a solid outing versus Cincinnati, holding them to two runs over five innings pitched to earn his third straight victory. Taillon has turned things around after getting off to a slow start in the Windy City, and he’s posted a 4-0 record through six starts since the beginning of July. Taillon's trip to NYC went well last month, as he tossed eight scoreless frames in a return to the Bronx against the Yankees, and he’ll attempt to replicate that performance in Queens Tuesday.

Cubs Player Trends & Props

• Cody Bellinger has multiple hits in four straight games, and he’s leading the Cubs in batting (.332), with sixteen home runs and 53 RBI.

• Dansby Swanson has produced a run in five of the previous eight games, and he’s posting splits of .265/16/51.

• Nico Hoerner has scored a run in six of the last seven games, and he leads the Cubbies in hits (119) and RBI (58).

• Ian Happ has collected a hit in eight of the last ten games, and he’s posting a line of .247/13/53.

• Jeimer Canderlario, a NYC native, has also recorded a hit eight of his last ten appearances, and he’s putting up splits of .272/17/56.

Mets Preview & Projected Starter

New York moved to 50-61 after defeating Washington. The Mets snapped a nasty six-game skid with the powerful victory Monday night, and they’ll look to build on that effort here in game two. The New York offense is scoring 3.98 runs per game, while batting .238, with a .318 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.39 ERA, with a 1.35 WHIP.

Carlos Carrasco (3-4, 5.82 ERA, 50 Ks) will get the call for New York. The fourteen-year pitcher had another rough outing in Kansas City last time out, allowing six runs in six innings en route to his third straight defeat. Carrasco has struggled since returning from the break, and he looks a bit washed after allowing four runs or more in each of his last four spots. Carrasco managed to have a good outing in his May matchup with the Cubs at Wrigley (6.2 IP, 1 ER, W), but his recent form may lead to different results here.

Mets Player Trends & Props

• Pete Alonso powered the game one victory with a pair of homers and six runs produced, and he’s the Mets leader in home runs (33) and RBI (83).

• Francisco Lindor has recorded a hit in nine of the last ten games, and he’s second on the team with 22 homers and 69 RBI.

• Brandon Nimmo is hitless in his last two contests, but he still leads NYM in batting (.254) and hits (104), with 15 HR and 47 RBI.

• Jeff McNeil has reached base in six of the last eight games, and he’s right behind Nimmo for the team-lead in batting at .253.

Corey’s Free Pick

New York showed some life with a powerful game one, but Chicago comes into a great spot with an aging Carlos Carrasco set to go. The veteran pitcher has been vulnerable all season, and after being bullied in Queens last night, the Cubs’ bats should come out swinging. Jameson Taillon’s recent improvement provides optimism here as well, so let’s back Chicago for game two this Tuesday.