Series Preview: Mets Look to Continue Winning Ways in Chicago

After a pivotal series sweep against the Cleveland Guardians, the New York Mets (25-23) are heading to Wrigley Field for three games against the Chicago Cubs (20-26). Despite having a slow start to the season, the Mets have recently seen an uptick in their performance as they are currently defending a five-game winning streak while being 4.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves. On the other hand, the Cubs have struggled lately, as they are coming off their fourth consecutive series loss, this time at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies. Consequently, this series will be important for both teams as they look to make up some ground in their respective divisional races.

There are a few things to be aware of as the Mets head into this series. First, catcher Gary Sánchez made his Mets debut over the weekend, and went 1-for-3 while collecting one RBI. Second, rookie third baseman Brett Baty has continued to impress with his bat, as he has a slugging percentage of .591 in his last seven games. Third, infielder Eduardo Escobar has quietly thrived in his more limited role, as he has six hits including a home run in his last 14 at-bats.

Tuesday, May 23, 2023: RHP Kodai Senga (4-2, 3.77 ERA) vs LHP Drew Smyly (4-1, 2.86 ERA)

Kodai Senga will be the starter for the opening game of the series, and he was outstanding in his most recent start against the Tampa Bay Rays. In six innings, he only allowed one run with three hits while punching out an astonishing 12 batters. While Senga has excelled in home games this season, he has allowed 13 runs combined in his last three starts on the road. That said, it will be interesting to see if Senga can maintain his success from his previous start in this road contest against the Cubs.

Drew Smyly is also coming off a solid performance, in which he tossed six innings while allowing one run with eight strikeouts against the Houston Astros. Aside from his first start of the season that resulted in six earned runs, Smyly has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his outings this season. This success has translated to his career against the Mets, as he is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in six appearances against the club in his career.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023: RHP Tylor Megill (5-2, 3.88 ERA) vs RHP Marcus Stroman (3-4, 3.05 ERA)

Tylor Megill has quietly been solid to begin the season. In his previous start against the Rays, he pitched six innings while allowing two runs with four strikeouts. Megill’s continued success will be essential for the Mets as they navigate a season in which they have seen underwhelming performances and unfortunate injuries from their starting pitchers.

Former Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman will be taking the mound against his old club on Wednesday. He was also solid in his last start, as he tossed six innings while allowing one run and striking out two against the Phillies. In his 2022 start against the Mets, Stroman pitched 4 and 1/3 innings with one run allowed and six strikeouts.

Thursday, May 25, 2023: RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-2, 8.68 ERA) vs RHP Jameson Taillon (0-3, 8.10 ERA)

It is no secret that Carlos Carrasco has struggled mightily to start the season. Between poor performances and frequent injuries, Carrasco has experienced a tumultuous tenure with the Mets thus far. His last start was no different, as he pitched five innings while allowing as many runs against the Guardians. As the Mets continue to deal with the ramifications of the spring training injury of starting pitcher José Quintana, they could greatly benefit from Carrasco returning to his old form in his upcoming starts. In his 2022 start against the Cubs, Carrasco was excellent in six shutout innings with six strikeouts.

On the other side of the ball, Jameson Taillon has also struggled to begin the season. The former Yankee had a rough start last time around in Philadelphia, as he pitched a mere 2 and 1/3 innings while allowing six earned runs including two long balls. While Taillon has not pitched against the Mets since 2018, he has a 2.25 ERA against the club in three appearances.