Mets at Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are outstanding at home while the New York Mets are mired in a funk on the road. New York will try to halt a stretch of 14 losses in 18 contests away from home on Friday, when it visits Chicago for the second contest of their four-game series.
Javier Baez homered and recorded two RBIs while Anthony Rizzo smacked a two-run double as Chicago posted a 7-4 victory in Thursday's series opener to improve to 26-12 at Wrigley Field. Rizzo's two-base hit put the Cubs ahead to stay and Baez followed with a triple as Chicago put up six runs in the third inning en route to its second straight win after losing six of its previous eight. The Mets fell to 15-26 on the road, but slugger Pete Alonso hit his 25th homer, tying Cody Bellinger (2017) of the Los Angeles Dodgers for most blasts by a National League rookie prior to the All-Star break. Todd Frazier belted his 200th career shot after failing to go deep in his previous nine games.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.74 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Yu Darvish (2-3, 4.65)
Vargas left after four innings with a left leg cramp his last time out, when he gave up three runs - two earned - and one hit in four frames against St. Louis. The 36-year-old won his previous two starts, the first being his eighth career shutout as he tossed a five-hitter against San Francisco on June 5. Vargas is 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs and has shut down Rizzo (1-for-8).
Darvish was superb in his last turn as he gave up one run and two hits while registering 10 strikeouts in seven innings against the Dodgers. However, the 32-year-old from Japan settled for his ninth consecutive no-decision, as his last win occurred on April 27 against Arizona. Darvish is 1-0 with a 3.26 ERA in three career outings against the Mets and has struggled with Robinson Cano (9-for-25, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets fired pitching coach Dave Eiland and bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez on Thursday and made interim hires in pitching coach Phil Regan and bullpen coach Ricky Bones.
2. Chicago recalled RHP Adbert Alzolay, who allowed one run and one hit in four-plus innings of relief on Thursday in his major-league debut, from Triple-A Iowa while LHP Tim Collins was designated for assignment.
3. New York OF-INF Jeff McNeil has gone 7-for-13 with a homer and three doubles over his last three games.