Cubs at Mets
Much like a year ago, the won-loss record does not tell the story of Jacob deGrom, who is bidding for his second straight National League Cy Young Award with a torrid second-half push. The New York Mets could use a big effort out of deGrom as they try to halt a five-game losing streak and avert a three-game sweep versus the visiting Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.
DeGrom has been spectacular since the All-Star break, posting a 4-0 record and microscopic 1.04 ERA, but the Mets fell four games behind Chicago for the second wild card following Wednesday's 10-7 victory by the Cubs. J.D. Davis has homered in back-to-back nights and Jeff McNeil went deep among three hits for New York, which followed a five-game winning streak by dropping its last five -- all at home. Chicago answered a three-game slide by swatting five two-run homers in taking the first two games of the series to stay within two games of wild-card leading Washington. Kyle Schwarber set a career high with his 31st homer and added an RBI double Wednesday to put the Cubs in position for their first three-game road sweep since April 15-17.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, ABC-7 (Chicago), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (10-9, 4.49 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (8-7, 2.56)
Lester was unable to follow up a strong effort at Pittsburgh, lasting only 4 1/3 innings and getting rocked for six runs and nine hits in a loss to Washington on Friday to fall to 1-3 with an 8.51 ERA this month. The 35-year-old tossed six scoreless innings in his previous turn against the Pirates, the only team he has beaten in eight starts following the All-Star break. Amed Rosario is 5-for-9 against Lester, who posted a 1-0 mark and 2.08 ERA in two starts versus the Mets in 2018.
Despite an overpowering performance in which he struck out 13 and allowed one run and four hits over seven innings versus Atlanta last time out, deGrom had to settle for a no-decision. It marked the 17th consecutive start in which he allowed three runs or fewer and the seventh time since the All-Star break that he has permitted one earned run or less. Kris Bryant is 5-for-14 with two homers off DeGrom, who pitched six innings of two-run ball in a no-decision at Chicago on June 23.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs RF Nicholas Castellanos is 16-for-39 with four homers, nine RBIs and nine runs in the past nine games.
2. Mets C Wilson Ramos has hit safely in 20 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors.
3. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo (back), who is 10-for-23 against deGrom, hopes to return for the weekend series versus Milwaukee.