The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets are both exceeding expectations at this point in the season as they sit well above the .500 mark while playing like playoff contenders. That has made their recent series very interesting as they have feature a set of low-scoring games. While the Cubs have been struggling on offense, their pitching has been very consistent to this point. However, the Mets lineup is not looking much better as they aim to close out the series.
Both the Mets and Cubs have been quiet at the plate in the series. Chicago has scored fewer than three runs per game in their last eight straight while the Mets have gone quiet as well losing the first two games of the series. Chicago has a chance to get some movement going on Thursday after their early-season success against Jacob deGrom who takes the mound again. The pitcher is 8-5 with a 2.15 ERA and had one of his worst outings against the Cubs in May. He gave up back-to-back home runs in the first innings while falling to four runs and five hits in just five innings. He posted the same line in June against Chicago. However, since then he has bounced back well going 5-1 with a 1.23 ERA.
Offensively the Mets have been bad lately. The team is averaging 1.7 runs per game during a 4-9 stretch. They have not been shut out much this season, but the Cubs lineup has been taking it to them on some lucky breaks this series. Sterlin Castro and Miguel Montero have been hitting well despite the low-scoring games and they will try to do the same again.
Jake Arrieta takes the mound as he is 7-5 with a 2.94 ERA. He has been pitching well as of late. He posted a four-hit shutout against the Minnesota Twins before giving up one run and three hits to St. Louis. He has allowed three runs for less in 11 of 15 starts this season which does not speak well to the Mets' struggling lineup. Terry Collins remains confident the players can start to get things moving once again.
