The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs continue their 4-game first half-closing series in Chicago on Saturday in a day/night doubleheader due to Friday's rainout. The Mets have been one of the best teams in baseball throughout the first half and have led the NL East nearly wire-to-wire thus far. The Cubs have had a rough first half and continue to fall down the standing in the NL Central Division. The pitching matchup will feature multi-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer (6-1, 2.15) taking on lefty Drew Smyly (2-5, 4.43). First pitch is scheduled for 8:05pm EST.
The Mets shot out of the gate as the best team in baseball and, while they have had a variety of injuries and ups and down since then, they will finish the first half the same place where they started: atop the NL East Division. The Mets have so far been able to fight off the challenge from the Atlanta Braves and the return from injury of Max Scherzer could not have come at a better time. Scherzer pitched seven innings in the series opener in a critical series with Atlanta on Monday and got the Mets off and running with a win. The Mets took two of three games from the Braves to hold onto their division lead. Friday night's scheduled game was postponed due to rain and this game will now be game one of a day/night doubleheader on Saturday.
.@Cookie_Carrasco brought it. @Tezos | #LGM pic.twitter.com/m8rrjX5DqJ
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 15, 2022
The Mets are averaging 4.5 runs over the course of their last ten games while winning six out ten games. They have hit 13 home runs over the course of those ten games. More importantly has been the return to prominence from the Mets starting staff. In the last ten games, the Mets have seven quality starts and allowed just 63 hits in 91.1 innings. Tonight's starter, Max Scherzer, has made two of those quality starts since returning from the IL. Scherzer has made seven quality starts in his 10 starts this season and leads the Mets with an 11.3/K per 9 ratio. In his two starts since coming off of the IL, Scherzer has a sparkling 0.69 ERA.