Tuesday night baseball and I will have a Free Pick in the game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets, which will be played at Citi Field in New York. First pitch is scheduled for a 7:10 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised locally.

Betting Odds

Cubs                 -114
Mets                 +104

Over/ Under: 7  -110

This is game 1 of a 3 game series between these National League foes. The Cubs had been playing well but they now come in on a 5 game slide, which now has them in 3rd place in the AL Central and 11.5 games behind the Cards. The Mets come in on a 4 game winning streak and are just 2.5 games behind the Nats for first place in the NL East.  

The Cubs rank 18th in scoring (4.03 rpg), 22nd in hitting (.245) and 13th in homers (71), while on the mound they are 7th in ERA (3.51) and 5th in WHIP (1.20). New York ranks 27th in scoring (3.58 rpg), 29th in hitting (.235) and 18th in homers (65), while on the mound they are 5th in ERA (3.45) and 4th in WHIP (1.20).  

Getting the ball for Chicago tonight will be Kyle Hendricks, who is 2-4 with a 4.46 ERA in 14 starts this year, while on the road he has gone 2-2 with a 4.80 ERA. Kyle is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his lone start vs the Mets in his career. 

Toeing the rubber for the Mets tonight will be Jon Niese, who is 3-7 with a 4.12 ERA in 14 starts this year, while at home he has gone 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA. Jon has struggled vs the Cubs in his career, going just 3-5 with a 5.23 ERA in 9 starts vs them. 

Pick: I am going with the Cubs in this one and this is a clear fade against Jon Niese, who is just not a strong pitcher this year. He does have just a 3.15 EA in his last 3 starts, but with a high 1.45 WHIP, while at home he is 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He just puts too many men on base and the Cubs should take advantage of that. The Cubs have averaged 4.72 rpg on the road this year and they have hit lefties really well all season, while the Mets offense has really struggled of late as they have averaged just 2 rpg in their last 11 games. Kyle Hendricks has struggled this year, but vs this offense he doesn't have to be great. Niese is 3-5 with a 5.23 ERA in 9 starts vs the Cubs in his career and while the Mets have gone 29-11 at home they have not been good at home vs winning teams this year.  

-$25 of picks FREE! No Obligation - No Credit Card Required - Becoming a member is Fast and Free! 

Stay on top of the latest odds and line moves for MLB Season with our real-time odds from Las Vegas and offshore!

Stop the All-Star Game Ballot Stuffing
Pro handicappers Teddy Covers and Steve Fezzik have a bone to pick with MLB Commisioner Bud Selig, who decided the All-Star exhibition game will determine World Series home field advantage. With Royals fans currently voting seven Kansas City players into the starting line up of the American League team, this popularity-based roster of an exhibition game which has way too much impact on the most important baseball series of the year.