MLB Betting Preview: New York Mets vs. Chicago Cubs Odds, Analysis

The New York Mets (49-42) have won all four meetings with the Chicago Cubs (55-36) so far this season and eight in a row overall dating back to last year’s National League Championship Series as they battle Monday in the first of three games at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs are coming off a series win over the Texas Rangers and are listed as 20-33 betting favorites (wager $165 to win $100) at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

Chicago dropped the series finale to Texas 4-1 on Sunday after winning the first two games by a combined score of 9-1. The Cubs had entered the All-Star break losing 15 of their previous 21 games but now own an eight-game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

Meanwhile, New York is six games back of the Washington Nationals in the NL East following a series victory against the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend.

The Mets will send 25-year-old Steven Matz (7-5, 3.38 ERA) to the mound looking to extend the series winning streak against Chicago to nine.

Matz did not pitch well in his first start against the Cubs at home June 30, walking away with a no-decision in an eventual 4-3 win after giving up all three runs and seven hits in 5.1 innings. He threw 104 pitches and walked three batters while striking out six.

The total went under in that game, but the over is 3-1-1 in the past five meetings overall, according to the Odds Shark MLB Database.

The Cubs will counter with lefty Jon Lester (9-4, 3.01 ERA), who has seen his team outscored 26-9 in the last two games he has started. They started the year 11-3 in Lester's first 14 outings but are 1-3 in his last four, with him failing to earn a victory during that stretch.

Lester got bombed in his lone appearance against New York in 2016, surrendering a season-high eight runs and nine hits in only 1.1 innings of a 14-3 loss at Citi Field on July 3. He has been much better at home though, going 4-2 in eight starts with a 2.32 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .200 against him at Wrigley.